Protecting Your Agency and the Public: Psychological and Legal Considerations in Preemployment Psychological Evaluation

Hiring the right personnel in law enforcement is critical to public trust, operational effectiveness, and officer well-being. Officers must make split-second decisions under pressure, requiring psychological stability, ethical judgment, and teamwork to uphold departmental integrity and community safety. A structured, legally defensible hiring process—including preemployment psychological evaluations—helps identify candidates best suited for these roles. Poorly executed or inconsistent evaluations can result in legal challenges, EEOC complaints, and claims of unfair hiring practices. This session offers guidance on developing a fair, sound hiring process that aligns with IACP guidelines, POST requirements, and evolving case law, minimizing risk while ensuring candidates are well suited for public safety roles.