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A Question for The LEO Community

KillShot

Major Hide Member
Full Member
Minuteman
May 25, 2010
2,362
8
Tulsa, Oklahoma
I just finished reading about a horrific incident which transpired in the state of Maryland that would make your stomach turn, regardless of which side of the LEO aisle or argument you're on. For starters, it makes the Rodney King fiasco look like a walk in the park in terms of brutality and those involved. Not only is it a tragedy for the victim's wife, who is now a widow, but also for the family of each the alleged 52 officers involved because they are now victims of someone else's poor judgement and lack of control.

My question is this: do the larger departments or state agencies conduct annual psychological evaluations, like the mental evaluation you must pass to become an officer, and if they don't, why not?

I only ask because it would seem like such a battery of tests would determine whether or not someone was about to come unscrewed and potentially create a major catastrophe.

I did not post the link to the incident because I don't want this to become an anti-LEO bashfest and also because this incident occurred in 2010.
 
Re: A Question for The LEO Community

For my agency the answer is no and the reason is likely money but could be more complicated than that also. We can recommend someone for a psychological evaluation if we see an issue but it isn't an annual requirement.
 
Re: A Question for The LEO Community

I was LE for the Anchorage Police Dept. No we don't do the annual phy test.

As mentioned, its expensive, plus you run into the problem where if an individual pass the test to get hired, then at a later date, he fails the test, then the department more then likely have to pay disability retirement benifits.

The thing is, you have bad apples in every profession. On the whole, you really don't have that many in LE. You only hear about the bad apples, you never hear about the 100s of thousand good cops.

All cops are going to get complaints or you're not doing your job. Its the "founded" complaints that count.

To give you an example. Eagle River is part of Anchorage, but about 10 miles away on a limited access highway. The speed limit is 55. I've gotton complaints for impeding traffic for going 54, and I've gotten complaints for speeding for going 56 MPH.
 
Re: A Question for The LEO Community

Only if you are involved in highly stressed situation. Such as a shooting, finding a body, etc. then you gotta see the shrink.

also
Theres no continous PT testing for normal patrol (just pistol quals, etc)
 
Re: A Question for The LEO Community

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kraigWY</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was LE for the Anchorage Police Dept. No we don't do the annual phy test.

As mentioned, its expensive, plus you run into the problem where if an individual pass the test to get hired, then at a later date, he fails the test, then the department more then likely have to pay disability retirement benifits.

The thing is, you have bad apples in every profession. On the whole, you really don't have that many in LE. You only hear about the bad apples, you never hear about the 100s of thousand good cops.

All cops are going to get complaints or you're not doing your job. Its the "founded" complaints that count.

To give you an example. Eagle River is part of Anchorage, but about 10 miles away on a limited access highway. The speed limit is 55. I've gotton complaints for impeding traffic for going 54, and I've gotten complaints for speeding for going 56 MPH.

</div></div>

Kraig, just let it out, we know you are one of them driving down Turnagain in a moterhome doing 35 on a Friday afternoon in the summer!
 
Re: A Question for The LEO Community

I understand the whole cost factor but it seems to me that it would be cheaper to conduct annual psych evals than to pay out millions due to a lawsuit.
 
Re: A Question for The LEO Community

It's very rare that departments "pay out millions" in a law suit because of an officer having a psych issue.
 
Re: A Question for The LEO Community

We don't. I don't know why. It could be the costs (3,600 officers), HIPAA Laws, etc.
 
Re: A Question for The LEO Community

One's current state of mind isn't determined by their last psychiatric evaluation. It's determined by variable factors and events in their daily lives.
It's not a vaccination.