MSU polygraph analyst helping area
By Brittany Shammas (Last updated: 07/08/09 10:02pm)To MSU police Detective Anne Stahl, a racing heart, sweaty hands or a high blood pressure could be the difference between an innocent man and a criminal.
Stahl is MSU’s only polygraph analyst, likely the first at MSU in at least 50 years. Her work, which is sought out by police departments throughout Mid-Michigan, relies on the physiological reactions an individual’s body has to the stress of lying and can be key in criminal investigations. Stahl asks the examinee specific questions and monitors their bodily reactions while answering.
Stahl said she receives at least three to four polygraph administration requests each week and has conducted examinations in criminal cases ranging from child abuse to homicides, with results that vary from identifying a suspect to weeding out suspects.
“In some situations, a polygraph can make or break a case,” she said. “In some situations, it just gives investigators a better idea or better perspective on where they need to head with their investigation.”
Stahl said a polygraph test also can differentiate between people unrelated to a crime.
“It can eliminate truthful people that are innocent and have nothing to do with the crime,” she said.
A polygraph analyst looks for deception by comparing a person’s physiological attributes during questioning to their normal levels, said Lynn Marcy, director of the American Institute of Polygraph in Otsego, Mich. The examination’s accuracy depends on the ability of the analyst, he said.
“It’s like any other kind of a diagnostic or art form,” he said. “Some folks can be better at it than others.”
Stahl, who was trained as an analyst about three years ago, is very talented in her line of work, MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said. Stahl was sent to training by the MSU Police Department because there was a need for the services of a polygraph analyst within the community, McGlothian-Taylor said.
In many cases, a polygraph test can be very helpful to investigators because a person being tested by a polygraph analyst often will confess to a crime, Bob Kullman, a forensic examiner at Speckin Forensic Laboratories in Okemos said.
“There’s been many, many times where during the polygraph, the polygraphist will say, ‘You failed,’ and the suspect will say, ‘OK, I helped so-and-so bury the body,’” he said.
And if an examination does not lead investigators to a confession, it can show investigators if they are moving toward a suspect, Stahl said.
“It can be tremendously helpful,” she said.
Originally Published: 07/08/09 10:02pm
Smitty
07/09/09 10:33amSeems like a waste of money to me. Why don’t the MSU Police focus their time and resources on cases that occur on campus instead of helping the other police departments in the area. How about trying to catch the guy who stole my backpack last year.
Steve Styx
07/09/09 12:12pmWhat a load of horse hockey !! A polygraph is nothing more than an interrogation prop. The polygrapher is an interrogator nothing more. Bottom line is, its your right to refuse it in all circumstances. If your told you failed a polygraph, its nothing more than being lied to anyways. An invalid pseudo science at best.
Vic Strecher
07/09/09 1:11pmYour story could have been more comprehensive if it had mentioned that Lt. Charles Becker was an expert polygrapher/interviewer for MSU Police during the late 1940-1950s. He assisted other agencies, as well. Also, Dr. Frank Horvath, retired professor of Criminal Justice at MSU, is recognized worldwide as a preeminent researcher of polygraphy issues. Yes, Mr. Styx, it is a prop, but it is often more than that when used by an expert interviewer/observer of behavior.
Psychopath
07/09/09 2:54pmI am glad that it can help generally speaking, polygraphs that is…However I would have to believe that if a person is a Psychopath, that they have NO feelings, so NO physiological reactions would be given from that person. I believe that a Psychopath doesn’t have the same concience as everyone else..they do not register GUILT. Thus making polygraphs ineffective.
Hornet
07/09/09 3:34pmSo Why are they Given?
07/09/09 4:33pmIs it used so that the police can ask further questions, as well as to let the person go who passes the polygraph?
Sparty
07/10/09 12:04pmIn the hands of a true expert (typically intelligence officials), the poly is a very useful tool that does detect deception on almost everyone in the population. pathological liars on the other hand typically do not show up so it cannot be used in a vaccuum/as the only tool. Nonetheless, with most people, as long as its a true expert giving the polygraph, they can be very effective.
Interesting
07/10/09 8:45pmThank you for the information Sparty, very interesting indeed.
Hornet
07/10/09 10:20pmSteve Styx
07/12/09 1:22amSpoken like true believers in BS. Polygraphers can be beat by countermeasures and those that can and do know to counter SA (statement analysis) techniques, and know how to counter KA (Kinesic Analysis) techniques. Reed, Honts and Walters knowlege is always a good trick to have up your sleeve. Makes interrogators go crazy !!! Besides if you know the polygraph is just a trick, no fear or anxiety, renders the machine useless, F3’s won’t even register. Better science beats schlock everytime.
Very Interesting
07/12/09 5:15amI always learn something new, when I take the time to read the Statenews. The Blogs are insightful.
I promise to...
07/12/09 11:48am..tell the truth!
Wait till you have to take one...
07/12/09 10:26pmI think its very funny how all of you dismiss the poly. As someone who actually had to undergo one for a security clearance, I can promise you that, while perhaps most police are not trained up to be good at it, true experts (i.e. the FBI, CIA, NSA) are able to tell if you are honest. Also, so called evasion techniques are available but are well known by experts and are easily noticeable if you know what to look for.
Thank you ^^^
07/12/09 10:37pmFor your post.
Steve Styx
07/13/09 3:52pmWait : 07/12/09 @ 10:26pm
Well you keep right on believing that and be a trusting sheep. And your (so called) experts have been beaten by trained individuals. Agency doesn’t matter. And trusting what comes off the internet for countermeasures is also a recipe for disaster. Its plainly obvious that its frontloaded so fools believe they can really beat it. Original techniques and methods plus the element of surprize is the key. But you go right ahead, remember that polygrapher (interrogator) in any form is not there to help you.