ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on what are arguably the most important issue facing police forces: adverse impact in hiring and promotion related to tests and other selection criteria on minorities and, to some extent, females. In general, the most frequent method for assessing knowledge, skills, and abilities related to police work is written multiple-choice tests because they can be administered to large groups and are easy to score. There were several lower court rulings in police and firefighter cases in which Griggs was affirmed under the 14th Amendment. The trial judge ruled that the passing score was arbitrary and the test’s “emphasis on academic and verbal skills [had] little relation to a policeman’s job.” Bridgeport Guardians v. Bridgeport Civil Service Commission featured challenges to written exams for hiring and promotion of police officers. In NAACP v. Seibels, written exams were used for entry-level police and firefighter jobs.
