City of Gainesville - File #: 050713

• File #: 050713
• Version: 1
• Name: State LECFTF Funding for Polygraph Purchase and Training (B)
• Type: Staff Recommendation
• Status: Passed
• File created: 1/9/2006
• In control: Public Safety Committee
• Final action: 1/9/2006
• Title: State LECFTF Funding for Polygraph Purchase and Training (B) This item requests that the City Commission appropriate and expend funds from the State Law Enforcement Contraband Forfeiture Fund for the purchase of two polygraph instruments and the necessary training.

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
1/9/2006	1	City Commission	Approved as Recommended	Pass

Title
State LECFTF Funding for Polygraph Purchase and Training (B)

This item requests that the City Commission appropriate and expend funds from the State Law Enforcement Contraband Forfeiture Fund for the purchase of two polygraph instruments and the necessary training.

Explanation
Currently, the Gainesville Police Department has one computerized polygraph instrument that was purchased in 1996. The other polygraph instruments that we have in inventory are analog polygraph instruments and are no longer serviceable. With two polygraph examiners on staff and just one functioning polygraph instrument, it causes frequent scheduling conflicts as well as delays in criminal, internal and pre-employment exams. The polygraph instrument is used by the Criminal Investigations Bureau to verify the truthfulness of witnesses and suspects in criminal investigations. Likewise, the polygraph is used by the Internal Affairs Division to verify the truthfulness of complainants and witnesses during internal investigations. The Personnel Services Division utilizes the polygraph instrument during the conditional job offer phase to verify the truthfulness of information provided by our applicants during their background investigation. Polygraph also assists the agency in determining that the applicant has good moral character as specified by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission in accordance with Florida State Statute 943.13.

A new computerized polygraph instrument has features that were not available when we purchased our current system in 1996. These features include the Piezo Electric Activity Sensor and the audio and video recording of the examination in sync with the polygraph exam. Both of these added features will assist the examiner in determining when a subject is employing countermeasures during a polygraph exam. In addition, having the sessions recorded on audio and video will aid the department in verifyi...