This document, which is Attachment 2 to a polygraph policy recommendation letter dated 3 January 2001 by Margaret M. Whelan, General Manager of the City of Los Angeles Personnel Department, was obtained by AntiPolygraph.org under the California Public Records Act.
Attachment 2
Page 1 of 3
9. Use of Drugs and a. Any substantiated pattern of
Intoxicants habitual use of intoxicating
beverages. Of most concern is use
which has resulted in irresponsible
behavior including but not limited
to illegal conduct, alcohol related
driving behavior, a poor work
record, financial problems, or use
which could impair a Police
Officer's, Police Specialist's or
Firefighter's ability to respond to
an emergency call back to work.
b. Any substantiated illegal act
involving narcotics or dangerous
drugs as defined by state or federal
law. Illegal use of hard narcotics
or hallucinogenic drugs having
flashback potential, or injecting of
any drugs into the body illegally,
is evidence of conduct not meeting
the standard.
b. Use of the Polygraph in the Background Investigation
A polygraph examination may be recommended for use as an
investigative tool when investigating the background of
Firefighter, Police Specialist and Police Officer
candidates if during the investigation:
(1) the candidate makes inconsistent or evasive
statements concerning potentially disqualifying
conduct in one or more background areas. The
candidate's statements must represent a clear
attempt to withhold information or must contradict
previous statements; or
(2) adverse information concerning the candidate's
conduct is discovered which:
(a) if true, may be grounds for
disqualification in accordance with Civil
Service Commission Policy; and
(b) has not been admitted by the candidate;
and
(c) cannot be proven or disproven through the
normal investigative process.
Each recommendation to administer a polygraph
examination for purposes of (1) above shall include
the specific area(s) in which the investigator
Attachment 2
Page 2 of 3
believes that the candidate was untruthful, and the
specific evasive or inconsistent statements made by
the candidate.
For (2) above, the recommendation shall include a
specific description of the adverse information
discovered, and the reason for which such conduct,
if true, may be disqualifying.
Each recommendation to conduct a polygraph
examination shall be reviewed by the General
Manager. If after reviewing the recommendation and
supporting reasons, it is determined that a
polygraph examination is warranted in accordance
with the above conditions, the General Manager
shall approve the administration of the polygraph
examination.
The polygraph examination shall be conducted by a
qualified polygraph operator of the Los Angeles
Police Department, using standard equipment and
accepted techniques. Each polygraph examination
shall be tape recorded in its entirety including
the pretest, intest, and post-test phases of the
examination. The candidate shall be questioned
about those problem areas which have been clearly
identified in the approved recommendation to
administer the polygraph examination. Questions
involving other background areas may be asked as
necessary for purposes of: 1) evaluating
candidate's response patterns in the predetermined
areas of concern, and 2) resolving apparent areas
of deception on the part of the candidate, which if
left unresolved would make the reliability of the
results of the polygraph examination questionable.
A member of the Personnel Department and/or a
member of the employing Department may be present
as observers.
For each polygraph examination, a quality control
analysis and review shall be made by at least two
other polygraph experts for purposes of determining
the reliability of procedures and validity of chart
interpretation.
A candidate shall be considered for
disqualification on the basis of the results of the
polygraph examination if:
(1) During the polygraph examination, the candi-
date admits to disqualifying conduct and
evidence of the admission is maintained, or
(2) The results of the polygraph examination
Attachment 2
Page 3 of 3
substantiate the concerns which resulted in
the decision to administer the polygraph.
Candidates for whom the polygraph results show
deception in a background area other than those
which led to the decision to administer the
polygraph examination, and who have not admitted to
disqualifying conduct:
(1) may be referred for further background
investigation, or
(2) may be considered for disqualification
utilizing the polygraph results as a factor in
evaluating the total background of the
candidate.
A candidate being considered for disqualification
after completing an LAPD-administered polygraph,
may request that the General Manager approve an
independent polygraph examination in accordance
with the Board's approved guideline. An inde-
pendent examination shall be at the candidate's own
expense and in accordance with the Board's approved
guideline and all examination conditions set forth
in this Policy, and shall specifically include
making the tape recording and charts available to
the Personnel Department for independent quality
control analysis and review if requested.
(Amended 1-11-91, 6-16-00 and 8-11-00)
1.14 In those cases in which the appointing authority has
reasonable cause to believe that an eligible or
employee should not be assigned to duties which involve
the operation of a motor vehicle on City business, the
concerned party may request the Personnel Department to
review the case. On the basis of a review of the
duties and responsibilities of the positions in
question, the Personnel Department shall determine
what, if any, restrictions should be placed on the
person's operation of motor vehicles on City business.
The City shall not assume any responsibility for
modifications to equipment or vehicles necessary to
accommodate restrictions placed by the Department of
Motor Vehicles on a person's driver's license.
Nothing in this Section shall limit in any way the
authority of the Personnel Department to otherwise
review the driving record of applicants for positions
or classes which require extensive driving.
(Amended 6-16-00)
2. Deleted 6-16-00
Transcription and HTML by AntiPolygraph.org