I need some advice, and I have some questions.

[Capn Circus]

Hello all!

My name is Andrew, and I'm new the forums here. I am 16 years old, I have a Driver's License, and I have a job as a Cashier at H-E-B (large grocery store chain in Texas). Since I've been working there for about 4-5 months, I have worked many extra days, and I have never been absent. I plan on keeping a great work record with H-E-B, and I plan on keeping a great driving record. I've been driving for a total of about 10 months, and I've yet to receive a citation or a Warning, and I've never been in a wreck. I plan on keeping it that way.


I also have zero criminal history, I have never done any type of drug, and I don't plan to, either. I plan on being a Police Officer when I graduate from High School. About 2 months after I graduate, I'll turn 19 years old. I plan on working working with H-E-B until I'm around 20 years old. Then I wish to enter a Police Accademy, and get a job as a small town cop in my current town of about 12,000 people, and 16 officers. I'm taking various Criminal Justice classes in High School, and as I said... I plan on maintaining a great, even perfect, record on everything I do.

There is a small problem though, I'm not in shape at all. I'm not fat, in fact, I'm underweight. I am extremely interested in being a Police Officer, and I know I need to start working out and running, but I have a long way to go. I can't even jog 2-3 laps without stopping or walking, and I don't believe I can lift over 80 lbs. What else do I need to be doing in order to better my chances of getting into an Accademy, and have a career as a Police Officer? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I do, however, have a few questions:

1. I'm nervous about the polygraph tests. I have done some things that were wrong when I was around 12 or 13. Like minor vandalism. However, I never did get caught doing it. And I heard the polygraph tests ask you if you have broken the law... what about that?

2. What is the full definition of "Child Pornography"? I've seen people around my age do things on the Internet like kiss, but I've never viewed any naked pictures. Is that what they are talking about?

3. What if I get nervous on the polygraph test, and even though I'm telling the truth, the needles jump, and they think I may be lying?

4. I've heard from some people that once people are Police Officers on patrol for a few years, they start to hate it, and dislike it, and want to get away from patrol really badly, is that true? Do you like being on patrol? I also ride out with Officers frequently.

5. Also, is learning the names of the streets and all of the locations hard? Does it take a lot of time? I've lived in this town for about 8 years, and I don't even know the street names behind and infront of my street. <_<

Hmmm, that's about all I can think of at the moment. Just please give me some basic advice on how I can achieve my goal, and dream, of becomming a Police Officer.

Thank you.

[irishlad2nv]

Wait 4 years and then ask your questions...you have a long ways to go my friend.

[purdinpopo]

First off, if you are a bag-boy for more than three years you will become a Serial Killer

No not really,
When I started my first cop job I weighed 125, and had a 27 inch waist, the gear you wear can be up to 30 pounds. 12 years later I weigh 180 (36 inch waist), with no gear, getting married to a good woman can do that. The biggest problem was that all the gear the department issued to put on my belt would not fit, as it was not long enough.

Child porn is picture of persons less than 18 not wearing clothes. Do not look at it, do not make it, nuff said.

Polygraphs, tell the truth up front, and stick to the truth you told up front. So the needles jump, that means your breathing and your heart is beating, again stick to the truth you told up front.

I love being a patrol Officer, and I will fight to stay on patrol, forever. There are things I do not like that happen, so what, that is part of any job.

Once you have responded to a call in a location, especially a hot call, you will remember the street for a long time, and if it is slow you will drive around looking for crime, and reading street sign, I always read the street sign as I pass it so if something happens I have a good location to give dispatch.

Look into becoming a police explorer, also check with the highway patrol some states run a sort of Junior academy for seniors in high school, I do not know about Texas. Eat you wheaties, start running, do some basic Calisthenics, and do not do anything Stupid...

[Capn Circus]

Why would it matter if you stuck with the truth? Even if you did, your breathing patterns or how the hell ever they judge it will be different from the "control" question then the "relevant" question, or whatever. =/

*sigh* I'm just so worried about it... =/

[rackem00]

Taking the polygraph is probably the easiest part of the testing process. Just tell the truth. Not much easier then that. Don't go there trying to hide something. All the questions you have to fill out do so truthfully. If the examiner sees anything that causes him/her any concern he/she after the test is complete will ask you to explain same. Then you will take the test over and there should not be any problems. Don't worry about being nervous everyone is nervous. The thing to remember is no one hired as a police officer has been nominated for sainthood. The fastest way to get fired as a police officer is to lie so why would a department hire you if you lie before your hired.

[rackem00]

I beg to differ, I have taken two and failed two. I do not know why, I was completely honest in both of them, and I was told afterwards that they wouldn't disclose that information to me. Needless to say I have absolutely no faith in the polygraph and its purported usefullness. The instrument can only tell when a person is nervous about a question, that does not translate into deception, which is how it is interpretted...

One it first depends upon who administers the test. Two sometimes an agency can use the excuse that you failed a test as a reason not to hire you. Sometimes you may not be the canidate they want to hire. I am not making accusations, but sometimes there are other factors at work (maybe political or the buddy system). I was once told by a chief of a certain police department that I failed a psychological exam. I went and spoke with the psychologist and found out I didn't fail, but was currently making double the yearly income as the agency was offering. They feared that once my training was completed I would leave for another department.

[purdinpopo]

I have been told that Poly is more of a Interrogation tool than real actual truth test, otherwise it would be admitted in court and the witnesses would probably be hooked up to one, kind of like on Star Trek (place your right hand on lighted circle). If you change your answer, hem and haw, you fail the test, now apparently there are some people that react just like you are supposed to, but for the most part, it's just smoke and mirrors, when they get through they tell you, that you had a problem with some question make you go through it again, act upset, are you sure, but you are spiking over here where my hand is over the paper, why are you having a problem with this question....

[Capn Circus]

For you guys that failed, did you have to move to another Department? Or can you try again or contest it with the same Department? Or does the record follow you and you just can't be an Officer anywhere?

[ctt]

*sigh* I'm just so worried about it... =/

Not that I want to further hijack this thread, but you should stop reading about how the tests are performed and just focus on being honest. The more you worry about it, the more likely your chances of fulfilling your fear will become.

Like purdinpopo said, I've also wondered, with the alleged lack of proof that they do work and that it seems a lot of people do not think they are accurate. I've wondered if nothing else, they are designed to see how a person responds to a potentially stressful situation. Even if you are telling the truth, but your pulse rate/blood pressure or whatever they look at shoot through the roof, they may see that you have a hard time remaining calm and they may feel that you are not going to work out well with their department.

My point is that you shouldn't try to outsmart or worry excessively about the test because no matter what you read on a forum full of people that have failed their tests, you still will not know what that individual tester is looking for. Plenty of people have passed them and your chances are as good as theirs.

[Styx]

A little motherly advice.....I would hang out with the H.E. B. folks a little longer.

I have a good friend who started working at HEB when she was 16. She is 36 now and at the executive level ...they paid for most of her education; both ungrad and graduate.

You never know...give yourself time to blossom; you are young...stay clean and finish school. By the time HEB pays for college and you have your degree; maybe you will be "just the right size" Set your goal to become an LEO and dont do anything to mess that up!

[DeputyGirl233]

Usually departments, will use polygraph as an excuse to get rid of some applicants whom they believe wouldn't make good officers. If that happens in some instances, the polygraph examiner will ask more probing questions relating to your background history to find grounds to disqualify you.

That's how they conduct the unwanted applicants during polygraph here, and several of people who applied for the local PD have flunked it.


Just my two cents.

[Capn Circus]

So, my best bet would be to stick with what I say, even though I may be lying on some things (Or think I'm lying, rather), because I'm not sure about some things that happened a long time ago.... And then just say I was just nervous on that question or whatever? Or I was thinking about something when they asked why I appeared nervous on that question?

[DeputyGirl233]

So, my best bet would be to stick with what I say, even though I may be lying on some things (Or think I'm lying, rather), because I'm not sure about some things that happened a long time ago.... And then just say I was just nervous on that question or whatever? Or I was thinking about something when they asked why I appeared nervous on that question?

If you lie to them, they will find out. And not only will you be DQ'ed from that dept, but also from dept's all over the state. So reconsider before you lie. I would rather be UP FRONT about everything, then lie.

[ctt]

So, my best bet would be to stick with what I say, even though I may be lying on some things (Or think I'm lying, rather), because I'm not sure about some things that happened a long time ago.... And then just say I was just nervous on that question or whatever? Or I was thinking about something when they asked why I appeared nervous on that question?

What could have happened "a long time ago" that would be relevant? You are 16 years old... You have four to five years to research and think about the situations that you feel may be relevant to make sure that you are telling a reliable, truthful version of whatever you have been involved in.

You are stressing about a possible polygraph test five years before you will ever take one. If you are thinking about something other than the questions that are asked of you during that test five+ years down the road I would be surprised. =)

[Capn Circus]

The only thing that is bothering me, is I believe that I may have seen a glimpse of "Child Pornography" when I was around 11 or 12 accidently when searching for porn on the net.... I'm not even sure, though. So, I'll have trouble with that question. Not to mention the shower room, and all that.. stuff.. that question they ask will just make the needles jump right off of the graph because I'll be so nervous. Do I tell them why I'm nervous about that question, or what EXACTLY would I do? Thanks again, guys...

Hopefully they'll get come to senses and get rid of Polygraph tests 4 or 5 years down the road when I need to take it. I just want to get prepared, that's all. :-)