Inspectors Fail Lie Detector Tests

Police sources say a few senior officers at the Inspector level have failed polygraph tests recently conducted by the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (CDPF).

A well-placed police source, which cannot be named because he was not authorized to speak to the press on the matter, said "a number of constables failed the test but very importantly it was also failed by inspectors who are in key positions."

"The constables who failed the test have been transferred…we want to know what is the position with the Inspectors and why are they not being transferred," the source asked.

The source also revealed that there are plans to make lie detector testing mandatory for officers who work in the "Drugs Squad, SSU, Task Force, NJIC and the Coast Guard."

"These are very sensitive areas where lots of information is gathered and they want persons in those departments to be of impeccable character," the source stated.

Officers are said to be unhappy with the decision and wish the Police Chief, who has openly supported lie detector testing, would speak on the matter, especially on the issue of senior officers who failed the test.

All calls to Commissioner of Police Daniel Carbon on the matter were futile and Chairman of the Police Welfare Association (PWA), Jefferson Drigo, said "no comments."

A polygraph (popularly referred to as a lie detector) is an instrument that measures and records several physiological indices such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity while the subject is asked and answers a series of questions. When conducted by a competent and experienced polygraph examiner, deceptive answers will produce physiological responses that can be differentiated from those associated with non-deceptive answers.

The SUN was told that during "the post phase," the examiner reviews all test data obtained and interprets the polygraph charts, from which the examiner will reach one of three conclusions – that the subject is telling the truth; that the subject is not telling the truth; or that the results are inconclusive. Upon completion of the test a verbal report will be given to the client, followed by a written report which consists of a synopsis of the case information, a list of the relevant test questions, the subject's answers, and the examiner's opinion as to the subject's truthfulness or deception.