Quote:
Originally Posted by mapuc
Doesn't the American police go through a psychological test ?
In Sweden a coming police officer has to go through both psychological and physical test before s/he is approved to become a police officer.
Markus
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Yes, as part of the hiring process they do, but it is rarely a actual psych issue the causes the problems, or ones that are not present at time of hiring. There are no regular psych evaluations unless something happens, such as officer involved shooting. Legally, can get hairy trying to preempt things due to civil service laws, police unions, etc.
In most departments across country, pay is low, especially given the potential risks and immense power , and thus hiring standards are low.
Very few of the incidents are caused by psych issues, it is the culture. There is, and has been for a long time, a very authoritarian, "us vs. the public" , thin blue line, police are infallible, increasingly militaristic culture, driven by the "war on drugs" and "war on crime".