NCJ Number
159251
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 62 Issue: 12 Dated: December 1995 Pages: 63-64,66,69-70,72
Date Published
1995
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article discusses an approach toward police officer selection that attempts to match recruit characteristics with departmental needs.
Abstract
The traditional, stringent police selection process consisting of written, psychological, and physical agility tests; oral interviews; polygraph and drug tests; in-depth background investigations; and behavioral simulations cannot always predict how a specific applicant will fit into the police organization. To ensure that police officers meet community expectations, the selection process should be modified to reflect department philosophy and mission. Agencies interested in recruiting and retaining qualified officers should adopt pre-employment psychological tests that measure personality characteristics and are supported by reliability data that suggest a determination of suitability.