| Police departments around the country have been under increased pressure to resolve the problem within their ranks of the use of unnecessary force. Historically, governing bodies and special commissions have urged police managers to look toward psychological testing as one avenue of use to avoid hiring officers who are prone to engage in the use of excessive force. In response, many police departments have begun to employ psychological testing of all applicants. Research reveals that of all the instruments available to departments, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory is the one test consistently used by those departments that perform psychological testing.;The purpose of this study was to determine if the MMPI can identify officers who are prone to engage in excessive force. The sample contained 75 officers who had been identified as receiving six or more excessive-force complaints within a 5 year period. The sample's prehire MMPI profiles, along with selected demographic variables, were evaluated. No significant correlations were found between any of the variables. Possible explanations for this negative finding are offered. |
