Along with a physical agility test and medical exam, aspiring police officers must undergo psychological testing to determine if they're a good fit for the job. High-profile officer-involved shootings and community protests have raised questions about police hiring practices. Research indicates that proper psychological testing can help police departments screen for strong candidates and screen out unstable individuals, according to American Public Media Reports.
Police agencies that understand the importance of thorough law enforcement psychological evaluation use the results of such testing to inform hiring decisions. The 232-page psychological screening manual developed by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) is considered one of the best guides in the U.S., for example.
The hiring process for police officers is rigorous and competitive. Each police department sets job criteria such as age, education and residency requirements along with automatic disqualifiers like a lengthy criminal history. Applicants who best fit the job qualifications are scheduled for a written examination, oral board interviews, physical fitness tests and a medical examination. The New York Police Department, for instance, immediately weeds out applicants with low scores on the Police Officer's Entrance Exam.
Advertisement Article continues below this adOther requirements can include passing a police polygraph and a background check. According to Go Law Enforcement, only about two out of 10 applicants pass all levels of screening. A psychological examination is the last hurdle that finalists must leap as a condition of employment. This step in the process assesses whether the applicant is emotionally cut out for police work.
The law enforcement psychological examination is a special evaluation of an applicant's suitability for police work. The purpose is to ensure that the applicant is emotionally stable and mentally capable of safely carrying out the duties of a police officer in high-pressure situations.
Advertisement Article continues below this adThe psychological exam is conducted by a licensed psychologist specifically trained to discern if police officer candidates possess the behaviors and attitudes that correlate with successful performance on the job. The examiner is particularly interested in personality traits such adaptability, emotional regulation, stress tolerance, dependability, integrity, ethics, resilience, conscientiousness and agreeableness.
The exam itself consists of two parts: a written questionnaire and multiple-choice psychological tests, plus a face-to-face meeting with a psychologist. Some police departments use one written test, while other departments administer a battery of psychological tests that measure abnormal behavior and altruistic pro-social behavior.
The oral interview may delve into matters such as the applicant's background, work history, academic accomplishments, medical issues and mental health conditions like depression. Depending on the type and number of confidential psychological tests chosen by the examiner, the written part of the exam can take several hours, according to Discover Policing. The personal interview may last up to one hour.
Advertisement Article continues below this adAlthough the psychologist does not make hiring decisions, the results of the psychological evaluation can be a determining factor in whether a police agency extends a formal offer of employment. Certain red flags in a report can eliminate a candidate from consideration. Deal breakers can include drug use, hostility, questionable judgment, problems with authority, poor impulse control and cultural bias, for example.
Dishonesty is another red flag that can result in disqualification. Providing misleading or false information on written questionnaires or during interviews can cost an applicant the job. Tests such as the MMPI-II-RF used in states like Minnesota can also reveal deceitfulness. The Lie (L) scale on the MMPI-II-RF measures validity and exposes test takers who tried to make themselves look good on the test instead of honestly answering the questions, as explained by Psych Central. For example, a deceptive test taker might deny ever feeling upset or worried in an attempt to appear calm and stable at all times.