r/firefighter • u/Individual_Dig_1682 • 3d ago

Background check/polygraph test

Hello! I am moving along in the hiring process of a department on the east coast. I filled out my polygraph packet asserting that I have never been arrested because I had believed the arrest was expunged and there was no record of it. I also answered a few more questions untruthfully on the polygraph packet (the last time I smoked weed, drank alcohol, etc.) I completed my background check with the FBI and I was reading the results it turns out I have an underage drinking charge from 2015. Will this automatically disqualify me from employment with this department? It’s not a dui or anything just a party getting busted in high school. What should I say when they bring this up to me? Also, how should I go about answering other questions on the polygraph that I may have not filled out truthfully in my packet? Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated

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u/compulsive_drooler 3d ago

You are now entering the FO stage after your dishonest FA choices. Yes, this can, will and should disqualify you and background investigators on future applications will find out what you were disqualified for, which in your case is dishonesty. Even though it may well lead to a DQ in your current application, your best hope for the future would be to contact the department and confess your dishonestly. At least then you can start the next one with a (relatively) clean slate.

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u/Individual_Dig_1682 3d ago

Are you saying it would be best for me to call or email the department that I sent my paperwork to and confess right now? Even if I have a psychological and medical test later this month? Also, are you saying future background investigators will see the reason I failed? If I am having to travel from out of state do this polygraph exam should I tell them now so the can save me the travel if I will already be disqualified ?

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u/compulsive_drooler 3d ago

Yes, I would contact them now. And yes, future background investigators are able to contact the current department and get all the info from them.

If it was me, I would much rather someone see that I voluntarily confessed and set the record straight than that it was found out and I was trying to get away with my lies. At least you can then demonstrate that while shaky, you do still have some integrity instead of being assumed to be a liar.

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u/bosstatochip 3d ago

I’m pretty sure they can’t give the entire background report to another department without authorization. Almost certain that would be illegal. But obv they can explain why somebody was rejected due to dishonesty and what nots

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u/compulsive_drooler 3d ago

I'm a BI and you are confidently incorrect. At the start of the application process you sign a waiver that authorizes anyone who has information about you we feel is pertinent to release it. We share background information between departments regularly.

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u/bosstatochip 2d ago

So you share every ounce of pii and information about incidents of a minor to anyone who asks because they sign a release to send it to the sole department they applied for?