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Polygraph


Five examiners currently share polygraph duties, which include doing both criminal and pre-employment polygraphs.  The Department utilizes the Lafayette Computerized Polygraph.  This polygraph technology includes video recording/monitoring as well as movement sensor technology.

The Department is proud of its Polygraph Unit for providing an investigative tool to assist in major case investigations as well as providing an effective tool for screening of prospective employees for the Department. The Unit has a long history as one of the first units in the state to be established in a law enforcement agency to better serve its community.

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CURRENT POLYGRAPH EXAMINERS

There are currently three active examiners in the Cedar Rapids Police Department:

  • Lieutenant Craig Furnish
    Craig has been a member of the department since 1990. He has served as a Detective in the Youth Bureau, General Crimes and Narcotics, a Sergeant in the Patrol Division and is currently the Night Investigative Division commander. Craig is a graduate of the Skyhawk Polygraph Institute.
  • Sergeant Kent Choate
    Kent joined the department in 1987 and has worked in a variety of areas including Crime Prevention and Narcotics and Sex Crimes. Kent is currently the commander in charge of the Animal Shelter. . Kent is a graduate of the Arizona School of Polygraph
  • Sergeant Robert Hagist
    Bob has been a police officer for 34 years with the Department. He has served as Identification Officer and is currently assigned as a day shift supervisor in the Investigative Division. Bob was trained at the International Academy of Polygraph Science in Florida in 1993.
  • Sergeant Anthony Robinson
    Tony has been a member of the department since 1994.  He has worked in a variety of areas including the Patrol Division, Youth Bureau, Narcotics and was a member of the Drug Enforcement Administration's Federal Drug Task Force.  Tony is currently a supervisor assigned to the Narcotics Division.  Tony is a graduate of Troy University Polygraph Center.
  • Sergeant Cody Estling
    Cody has been a member of the department since 1998.  He has experience working in the Patrol Division and the Investigative Division.  Sergeant Estling is currently a supervisor assigned to the Patrol Division.  Cody is a graduate of Troy University Polygraph Center.

 

 


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HISTORY OF CRPD's POLYGRAPH

The polygraph was first used at the Cedar Rapids Police Department in the late 1950’s. It was introduced by Professor Richard Holcomb of the University of Iowa who ran polygraph in connection with theft cases for the Detective Bureau. The first members of the Department to become trained as examiners were Assistant Chief James Shannon and Lt. Kenneth Vanous. They trained at the Keelar Polygraph School in Chicago, IL in 1966. In all, eleven officers from the Cedar Rapids Police Department have received polygraph training since 1966.

The best known of these examiners is William J. "Bud" Byrne who retired as Chief of Police from the Cedar Rapids Police Department in 1999. Chief Byrne received his training at Texas A&M University in 1969. He is a long-time member of the American Polygraph Association and has served on a number of committees for that organization. He has also been awarded lifetime membership in the Iowa Polygraph Association which he helped to found in 1975. Chief Byrne is also the Departments only published examiner.
 

In All, fourteen officers from the Cedar Rapids Police Department have received polygraph training since 1966, the list of polygraph examiners are:
 

James Shannon
Kenneth Vanous
William J. Byrne
Jim Kelleher
Calvin "Lefty" Trousdale
Darwin Ammeter
Robert Hagist
Larry Ray
Tina Debban
Kent Choate
Craig Furnish
Tony Robinson
Cody Estling

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