HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 1975.06.05 - 14693- 0 7 ion June 5, 1975 Miscellaneous Res(
BY: JOHN J. MCDONALD, COMMISSIONER
IN RE: POLICY REGARDING POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS
TO: OAKLAND COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS, it has become the policy of the Oakland County Sheriff's Department
to screen and turn down job applicants on the basis of polygraph and psychological testing;
and,
WHEREAS, 'that testing has included such vague, subjective, and judgemental factors
as sexual deviation, violent behavior, and the ability to hold up under stress; and,
WHEREAS, such subjective factors seem clearly to be in conflict with constitutional
guarantees against unwarranted invasion of privacy; and
WHEREAS, the questiors asked in such tests have not been formulated by the Personnel
Department and appear to vary depending on the individual who is subjected to the test;
and,
WHEREAS, certain individuals have been denied employment by the Sheriff's Department
because they failed such i-pct•
-
WHEREAS, in at least one Case those vague, subjective, and judgemental factors were
used to deny employment of a woman; and,
WHEREAS, the Sheriff's Department admittedly has never hired a female patrol officer'
despite their employment by many other ,police departments; and, s,- 44 /44 ,1 4 0 ti A 0/ 4 4
g 4 720 / 7 • ,4
WHEREAS, the clear and distinct danger exists that such subjective polygraph and
psychological tests may be discriminatory towards women, Blacks, and other minority groups.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this Board of Commissioners order the Sheriff's
Department to cease and desist from the use of the polygraph for any other purpose than
determination of past criminal activity, and no further polygraph questions relating to
sexual deviation, violent behavior and the ability to hold up under stress be undertaken
until and unless guidelines can be structured that would limit such investigation within
parameters acceptable to the people of Oakland County as represented by the Board of
Commissioners, and order the use of psychological testing to cease until the Board of
Commissioners can determine that suck resting is not being used, or structur such
manner, to discriminate against women, Blacks, or any othcr group.
vir Chairrnan„v:emov2, the adoption of the foregoing resolution.
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0158 June 5, 1975
Moved by McDonald supported by Price the rules be suspended for immediate
consideration of the resolution.
AYES: Patterson, Button, Dunleavy, Houghten, Kasper, McDonald, Moffitt,
Montante, Nowak, Page. (10)
NAYS: Perinoff, Pernick, Roth, Simmons, Wilcox, Wilson, Daly, Dearborn,
Fortino, Hoot, Lennon, Olson. (12)
PASS: Price. (1)
A sufficient majority not having voted therefor, the motion lost.
The Chairman referred the resolution to the Personnel and Public Service
Committees, with the Public Service Committee to be the reporting committee.
There were no objections.