Testing Is Thorough but Not Foolproof

The Los Angeles Police Department puts its recruits through a series of tough, demanding and complex drills and testing procedures before accepting candidates into its Police Academy.

The tests include a battery of grueling physical agility contests, along with extensive background reviews in which investigators interview the recruit’s relatives, friends, teachers, past job supervisors and others.

But one of the most crucial phases of the examination process, and the part the recruit undergoes only if he or she passes the physical and background tests, is a broad psychological evaluation designed to identify any hidden emotional troubles that could surface once the officer is outfitted for the stressful job of a beat patrolman.

According to Sheldon Kay, the city’s lead police psychologist, the mental exams include tests for personality traits, as well as more serious signs of depression, paranoia and schizophrenia.

After the written exams are taken--one that includes 550 true-false questions--a psychologist personally interviews each recruit. In the fiscal year ending last June 30, Kay said, more than 3,000 job applicants went through the psychological testing program and 15% to 20% failed.

“The tests are not 100% foolproof,” Kay said. “Some individuals who appear fine on the test may have some psychological problems that the tests do not pick up. But that would be considered rare.”