Learning Objectives

  • Define and describe the common activities and tasks of police psychologists.
  • Discuss police culture, and emphasize that it is not necessarily homogeneous.
  • Provide an overview of job analysis and various types of validity as they relate to the assessment of police applicants.
  • Describe various psychological tests and inventories used in the assessment of candidates for law enforcement positions.
  • Examine police suicide.
  • Describe the roles of psychologists and mental health professionals in assessing and treating officers after critical incidents, such as hostage taking, mass casualties, and shootings.
  • Review research findings on police bias and the use of excessive force by police.