NCJ Number
243043
Journal
Polygraph Volume: 41 Issue: 4 Dated: 2012 Pages: 209-223
Date Published
2012
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This paper seeks to edify some of those more obscure matters which may underlie the practice of deception by candidates during the police application process.
Abstract
Suitability to the law enforcement profession requires assessment on several levels - physical, mental, and, perhaps most importantly, integrity. Police officers are required to make decisions about the behavior of others. Is the behavior right or wrong, e.g., criminal? Good or bad, e.g., dangerous? Without sound moral fortitude and legally acceptable determinants of these qualities, the police officer becomes susceptible to mishandling his or her authority. Expectancy of police officers to possess high moral standards is no secret. Yet, many police applicants, even those of seeming superior moral character, are often compelled to purposefully provide false information during the application process. A survey of current literature indicates that willingness to violate one's own personal integrity in order to gain entry into a setting of high professional integrity may be much more complex than simply employing competitive edge tactics. This paper seeks to edify some of those more obscure matters which may underlie the practice of deception by candidates during the police application process. The concept of deception and some of the basic motivators for this practice will be incorporated into an examination of personality types of those who are typically drawn to public service, investigating whether or not a relationship exists between personality type and a willingness to deviate from a normal practice of integrity. Finally, various social constructs will be examined and offered as possible explanation for such deviation from norm, e.g., violation of one's own personal integrity, in seeking employment in a position of professional integrity. (Published Abstract)