As much as we’d like to think police departments are run with perfect justice, that doesn’t always hold true. This is why systems of authority are set in place. Such is the case with the U.S. Justice Department’s investigation of the Cleveland police department. What investigators are trying to figure out is if the CPD uses excessive force in violation of the constitution and federal law.

It’s not just Cleveland that has police issues; the Justice Department has also investigated Seattle, Puerto Rico and Warren, Ohio. Truthfully, any establishment can fall into violation of the constitution and the law. Is there a way to prevent “crooked cops” from entering the workforce?

The police chief of Cooperstown, Tennessee believes he has a solution. The Cooperstown police have experienced a series of scandals that, at one point, left the town without a formal department! Even before then, the mayor was voted out of office because of racism and running a notorious speed trap.

So how does Police Chief Shane Sullivan change the course of his department? “I think the polygraph will definitely keep these [racist] people from applying,” he claims. Yes, that’s right: a lie detector test. His theory is that if people know this is being done, racists won’t bother applying. And if they do, they will be weeded out.

There is some debate surrounding the effectiveness of the testing. Bob Peters, a spokesman for the American Polygraph Association, says asking about factual matter is helpful, because questions about racism are subjective. Still, Peters approves of the chief’s approach.

In addition to the polygraph, Sullivan is using extensive background checks to make appropriate hires. This is a smart move for the department, considering lie detectors can partially clear the path, but proper background checks are a sure way to make valid hiring decisions.