Archive of posts filed under the Polygraph category.

Polygrapher Patrick T. Coffey Threatens Lawsuit, Demands Retraction

Posted by on

Polygraph operator Patrick T. Coffey of San Francisco has threatened AntiPolygraph.org co-founder George Maschke with a defamation lawsuit. In a letter (877 kb PDF) dated 4 September 2009 sent by U.S. mail and fax, Coffey’s attorney, Carleton L. Briggs, demands “a full and complete retraction” of the 20 August 2009 blog post, “Is Patrick T. …

Continue reading ‘Polygrapher Patrick T. Coffey Threatens Lawsuit, Demands Retraction’ »

Is Patrick T. Coffey Fit to Be Screening Police Applicants?

Posted by on

Following up on his previous article on the San Francisco Police Department’s reliance on polygraph screening–despite broad scientific consensus that it is invalid–S.F. Weekly reporter Matt Smith takes an in-depth look at the man the SFPD has hired to polygraph applicants: Patrick T. Coffey, who received “$81,463 during the last fiscal year” for his services. …

Continue reading ‘Is Patrick T. Coffey Fit to Be Screening Police Applicants?’ »

S.F. Weekly Rips San Francisco Police Department’s Reliance on Polygraphy

Posted by on

In a well-researched article, S.F. Weekly reporter Matt Smith critically examines the SFPD’s reliance on polygraphy for applicant screening, despite it being completely discredited among scientists. Those interviewed include retired FBI scientist Dr. Drew Richardson, Professor Stephen Fienberg, who headed a National Academy of Sciences panel that  reviewed the scientific evidence on polygraphy, and polygraph …

Continue reading ‘S.F. Weekly Rips San Francisco Police Department’s Reliance on Polygraphy’ »

Polygraph Dragnet Planned in Houston Fire Department Harassment Investigation

Posted by on

Fox 26 News KRVI in Houston, Texas reports that all employees at the Houston Fire Department’s Station 54 will be asked to submit to lie detector “testing” in a racial and sexual harassment investigation: HOUSTON – FOX 26 has learned that every employee at Houston Fire Department Fire Station 54 will be asked to take …

Continue reading ‘Polygraph Dragnet Planned in Houston Fire Department Harassment Investigation’ »

Representative Darrell Issa Proposes Polygraph Screening for Congress

Posted by on

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) has proposed polygraph screening for members of Congress who receive CIA briefings. Susan Crabtree reports for The Hill: Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) wants fellow lawmakers who receive classified CIA briefings to submit to polygraph tests. “We should have a very high standard for those who are briefed by CIA — to …

Continue reading ‘Representative Darrell Issa Proposes Polygraph Screening for Congress’ »

CIA Polygraph Operators Need to Have Their Heads Examined

Posted by on

In a commentary addressing the case of retired CIA polygrapher John F. Sullivan, who is suing the CIA after failing a polygraph test for post-retirement contract employment, Congressional Quarterly National Security editor Jeff Stein, himself a veteran Army Intelligence case officer, proposes that CIA polygraphers — who “claim to be able to read the inner …

Continue reading ‘CIA Polygraph Operators Need to Have Their Heads Examined’ »

How Tom Henry Beat the Polygraph

Posted by on

In an oral history posted on YouTube, musician Tom Henry recounts the story of how, as a young Navy seaman, he was caught with a pound of marijuana in his locker, but escaped punishment after fooling the lie detector: The technique Tom thought of for fooling the lie detector (dissociation) wasn’t very sophisticated. But it …

Continue reading ‘How Tom Henry Beat the Polygraph’ »

Penn & Teller Bullshit! Lie Detector Episode

Posted by on

As has been discussed on the message board, Penn Jillette, the “bigger, louder half” of the magic and comedy duo Penn & Teller, has disclosed via Twitter that a forthcoming episode of the Emmy Award-winning Showtime series Penn & Teller Bullshit! will concern “the bullshit of lie detectors.” AntiPolygraph.org anticipates that this PTBS episode will …

Continue reading ‘Penn & Teller Bullshit! Lie Detector Episode’ »

Texas Department of Public Safety Brouhaha Over Polygraph Policy

Posted by on

Mike Ward, staff reporter for the Austin American-Statesman reports that — much to the horror of the state’s Public Safety Commission — the Texas Department of Public Safety has hired applicants who failed lie detector tests. Unfortunately, left out of the report is any mention of the fact that polygraphy has no scientific basis. The …

Continue reading ‘Texas Department of Public Safety Brouhaha Over Polygraph Policy’ »