ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, February 14, 1991                   TAG: 9102140424
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: BEDFORD/FRANKLIN 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                                LENGTH: Short

POLICE GROUP CRITICIZES USE OF POLYGRAPH TEST

An organization of uniformed police officers has leveled rare public criticism against the Police Department's top brass for how a polygraph was used in a probe of a complaint against an officer.

The head of the Police Benevolent Association criticized the department for punishing officer Gregory D. Roberts on the basis of the results of a lie detector test.

Roberts, 28, was fired in October by Police Chief Charles R. Wall after a perjury investigation by the Internal Affairs division. Roberts challenged the firing and was ordered reinstated in December by an appeals board, which found insufficient evidence for the dismissal.

Robert W. Mathieson, a vice squad detective and president of the association, said the investigation and disciplinary action left Roberts, a three-year police veteran who has four children, almost broke and nearly cost him his house.

Roberts took the test twice. The first time, the results suggested he was giving deceptive answers. But the second test showed he gave truthful answers.

Wall defended the investigation of Roberts and the reliability of lie detector tests. "I thought it was used properly or I wouldn't have recommended dismissal," he said.

- Associated Press 


 by CNB