Section 1002 (3) (i) of the Regulations requires that applicants be examined for emotional stability by an individual licensed to practice psychiatry or psychology and qualified to perform such evaluations in the State of Arkansas. The emotional stability to withstand the pressures of modern law enforcement work is an essential qualification for applicants for law enforcement service and although psychological test and interviews have recognized limitations, many personality defects can and are identified through screening by trained professionals.

Requirements

1. All applicants will be examined to determine emotional stability.

2. No person will be eligible for certification if they have any condition listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual III (DSMIII) of the American Psychiatric Association which would limit the police officer's ability to cope with the stress of modern day police work such as:
   1. Any organic mental disorder or organic brain syndrome that currently results in impairment in memory, cognitive functions, judgement and personality.

   2. Any substance use such as alcohol, barbiturate, opium, cocaine, amphetamine, hallucinogenic and cannibis which impairs social or occupational functioning due to an inability to control use or stop taking the substance and the development of serious withdrawal symptons after cessation or reduction in substance use. Previous substance use should be in remission for three (3) years.

   3. Any psychotic reaction showing disturbance in content of thought involving delusions, fragmented thoughts, distortions of reality, breakdown of ego defenses or hallucination. Any previous psychotic episodes should be in remission for three (3) years and be currently evaluated as showing no residual symptons.

   4. Any neurotic disorder such as excessive anxiety, panic, convulsions which would indicate that irrational behavior would occur under stress.

   5. Any impulse control problem particularly with anger having resulted in husband/wife or child abuse or revealed in explosive outbreaks.

   6. Any environmental stresses such as divorce, loss of job, business difficulty, death in family, can result in maladaptive reactions resulting in either impairment in social or occupational functioning that are in excess of a normal and expected reaction.

   7. Any personality disorder showing a pervasive and unwarranted suspicion and mistrust of people, hypersensitivity, emotional coldness and aloofness resulting in an ability to make and maintain relationships. Any history continuous and chronic anti-social behavior.

   8. Behavior disorders as evidenced by:
      1. Frequent encounters with law enforcement agencies or anti-social attitudes or behavior which, while not a cause for rejection under Regulation 1002 (3) (d) are tangible evidence of an impaired characterological capacity to adapt to the demands of law enforcement service.

      2. Behavior disorders where it is evident by history and objective examination that the degree of immaturity, instability, personality inadequacy and dependency will seriously interfere with the performance of law enforcement duties as demonstrated by repeated inability to maintain reasonable adjustment in school, with employers and fellow workers and other social groups.

Procedures

1. An actual interview and psychometric evaluation will be utilized:
   1. The employing agency will determine the examiner to be utilized.

   2. Applicants will complete any preliminary history forms required by the examiner. The applicant will provide the examiner with a release of information to the potential employing authority.

   3. The results of the first examination will be binding. When the original examiner determines that additional tests are needed, the additional tests or interviews will be considered a part of the original examination. If extenuating circumstances exist that create a doubt as to the validity of the results of the first examination, the employing agency may petition the Commission for the approval of a second examination to be administered by a different examiner.

   4. The psychometric evaluation shall include such standardized test as the Minnesota Multiphastic Personality Inventory, or others that may be necessary such as, Bender Gestalt and Rorshach or the equivalent of each test as are appropriate and are validated by proper authority to evaluate personality traits and other mental health characteristics. These tests will be interpreted by licensed qualified individuals to assure results.

   5. During the diagnostic interview, the examiner will evaluate each individual sufficiently for any evidence of disorganized or unclear thinking, of unusual thought control, of undue suspiciousness or of apathy or "strangeness" and any discovered evidence will be noted. Any unusual emotional expression such as depression, expansiveness, withdrawal or marked anxiety, which is out of keeping with the content of the interview will be noted and carefully evaluated.
      
      

2. The results of the evaluation will be recorded. A report of the evaluation will be forwarded to the employing agency. The report will be signed by a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist designating the applicant as RECOMMENDED or NOT RECOMMENDED. The results of tests or interviews administered by licensed psychological examiners must be reviewed and counter signed by either a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist.

3. The evaluation will be retained by the employing agency and must be available for examination at any reasonable time by representatives of the Commission.