New View on Medical Evaluations for Police

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Law enforcement officers are often the most visible agents of state and local government. At the local level, the cost of providing law enforcement services is one of the most significant appropriations for any community.

The largest part of funding law enforcement also involves the expenses associated with paying for personnel and their benefits and expenses. Local governments spend a great deal of time and expense in the appropriate selection and training of law enforcement candidates. They are using standards and guidelines for testing and training that give consistency to the law enforcement profession.

This, however, has been missing in the medical evaluation of officer selection and retention. The medical evaluation of officers is usually left to local physicians who may not …