Police and Public Safety Evaluations
Police and Public Safety Psychological Evaluations
Ensuring the well-being of those who protect and serve our communities is paramount. At VPG, we understand the unique challenges and demands that law enforcement and public safety professionals and executives face daily. Our goals for these kinds of evaluations are simple- to provide comprehensive and evidenced-based reports in a timely manner to public safety agencies.
Our psychologists have nearly 20 years of experience working professionally with public safety agencies. We have a deep understanding of the profession and are uniquely positioned to assess suitability for hire and fitness for duty. VPG’s psychologists have worked as consultants to peer support teams, family support groups, hostage negation teams, and special weapons teams. They have also worked alongside officers in a co-response team to provide emergency psychological services to the community.
VPG has contracts with various police and public safety agencies in Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside Counties to assist with the agency’s pre-employment psychological suitability evaluations and fitness for duty evaluations. In addition, we provide second-opinion or “appeal” evaluations for applicants who received a “not psychologically suitable” for hire determination by the public safety agency’s psychologist.
Types of Police and Public Safety Evaluations
1. Pre-Employment Suitability Evaluations.
Purpose: Before a candidate joins the ranks of law enforcement or public safety, a pre-employment suitability evaluation assesses their psychological readiness for the role. It’s a proactive measure to ensure that those who carry the badge or serve in a public safety position are equipped to handle the demands of the profession.
2. Fitness for Duty Evaluations.
Purpose: A fitness for duty evaluation is conducted when an active-duty law enforcement or public safety professional’s psychological well-being is possibly impacting their ability to perform the essential functions of their job. This assessment ensures that officers remain psychologically fit to perform their duties, even in the face of ongoing challenges or after critical incidents.
