A California State Court of Appeals ruled on Monday that cities and counties could require applicants for jobs as police officers to submit to polygraph testing . In 1986 the State Supreme Court held that any involuntary polygraph testing of state employees was unconstitutional , but the court 's ruling did not settle the issue as to public safety jobs . The court acknowledged that some critics have questioned the reliability of the polygraph, or so-called "lie detector." In the case at hand , a man who had taken disability retirement sought employment but was denied unless he would submit to polygraph testing . He refused , saying that there were less intrusive ways to screen applicants , but the court ruled that public safety outweighed his job .
A California State Court of Appeals ruled on Monday that cities and counties could require applicants for jobs as police officers to submit to polygraph testing . In 1986 the State Supreme Court held that any involuntary polygraph testing of state employees was unconstitutional , but the court 's ruling did not settle the issue as to public safety jobs . In the case at hand , a man who had taken disability retirement sought employment but was denied unless he would submit to polygraph testing . He refused , saying that there were less intrusive ways to screen applicants , but the court ruled that public safety outweighed his job .