DETECTIVE BECOMES THE AGENCY’S FIRST POLYGRAPH EXAMINER

Detective Jose Rivera of the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office has officially become the agency’s first polygraph examiner after completing a three month class at the Northeast Counter Drug Training Center in Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa. Rivera has been with the Sheriff’s Office for 11 years, and is presently assigned to the agency’s detective unit. He is one of a few polygraph examiners in Monmouth County working in law enforcement, and the only certified bi-lingual officer in the area. “This is a great asset to the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies,” said Sheriff Shaun Golden. “Having this service available will go a long way in ensuring that a cooperative effort and the sharing of services are beneficial for the law enforcement community.”

The class covered statement analysis, neurolinguistics, psychology, anatomy, physiology and interview and interrogation. In an effort to maintain certification, Rivera must complete thirty examinations, each related to a criminal case, which will then be reviewed by an instructor. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to become a certified polygraph examiner,” said Det. Jose Rivera. “This technique saves time, money and re-directs law enforcement efforts when investigating a crime.”

A polygraph test detects the physiological changes in a body as the subject is being interviewed, during which respiratory, sweat gland and cardiovascular activity are recorded. The data collected can help gain leads in a criminal investigation when eliminating or determining potential suspects. According to the American Polygraph Association (APA), the validity and accuracy rate of psychophysiology examinations using comparison question techniques reach approximately 98 percent.

The Northeast Counter Drug Training Center paid for the extensive training program. The polygraph equipment which was purchased from the Lafayette Instrument Company for $6,366, was funded through the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Law Enforcement Trust Fund, which collects money seized through criminal activity.

In an effort to maintain certification, Det. Rivera must remain an active member of the American Association of Police Polygraphists and complete 40 hours of training annually.