The Eau Claire Police Chief wants to give all potential new police officers a lie detector test before giving them a badge and gun.

Chief Jerry Matysik says after police candidates go through most of the hiring process they'd have to pass a polygraph test to get hired.

All candidates would be given the same questions about their general background, prior employment, and past behaviors, like possible criminal activity or substance abuse. Would-be officers still have to pass a physical and psychological exam, but Matysik says they want to make sure they know everything possible about the potential new employees. He says the lie detector test can help fill in those blanks.

Matysik says, " We just want to ensure that we're getting people of high character, people that are honest, people that we feel will really give us a good return on our investment and training and the effort and time we put into them as employees." He says this is not a reaction to any particular problem or employee in the police department. Right now, a detective does the polygraph tests for people accused of breaking the law, and that same detective would do these tests in the same room at the department.

Matysik will talk about this idea with the Police and Fire Commission at its meeting Thursday night, but the final decision is ultimately his.