By Joanna Putman
Police1
DALLAS — Dallas city officials have raised concerns regarding the police department’s hiring process, highlighting issues in identity verification during online testing and potential conflicts of interest with polygraph testing vendors, KERA reported.
These concerns were detailed in internal audit reports covering fiscal years 2020 to 2022, conducted by the City Auditor’s Office, according to the report. The audit provided six recommendations, including one high-risk related to polygraph tests.
Audit Manager Rory Galter stated that “there’s an incentive there to fail applicants because [the polygraph company] can generate additional revenues by doing the second test,” due to the absence of a policy directing secondary tests to different vendors and a clear appeals process for failed applicants, according to the report.
Dallas Police Department officials stated the department is working on training internal staff for polygraph examinations and considering directing secondary tests to Dallas Fire Rescue personnel.
Additionally, the audit highlighted a 30-day freeze on applications with errors, a practice criticized for potentially deterring candidates, according to the report. The recommendation suggests allowing candidates to correct their applications without reapplying.
Kristin Lowman, Dallas Police Department Public Information Officer, stated that “the department continues to review all recommendations,” with the first change expected by September 2024, according to the report.