Police-Encounters-With-People-In-Crisis

up to two hours. The tests used in this evaluation also include a significant focus on
current psychological health and well-being and measures of emotional intelligence.
33. Though the involvement of the psychologists in the CIRT is relatively recent and
evolving, the psychologists now have direct involvement in the administrative oversight
of the CIRT. This provides them with the opportunity to have even greater input and
some decision-making authority with respect to future selection decisions for CIRT
positions.
3. Issues in assessments for specialized roles
34. Psychological Services currently has no involvement in selection of candidates for
some other positions within the TPS that have important mental health aspects.
35. Notably, the TPS psychologists have no formal relationship with the Mobile Crisis
Intervention Teams (MCIT). It seems odd that there is no relationship between the two
key mental health arms of the TPS, and that the psychologists have no role in selecting
personnel for the MCIT given their important role in interacting with people in crisis.
Additionally, MCIT teams may find it useful to access the psychologists as a resource for
advice in carrying out their duties. It may also be useful for Psychological Services to
play a role in MCIT training.
36. Psychological Services likewise has no involvement in selecting supervisory
officers and coach officers. As discussed in Chapter 5 (Police Culture), the leadership of
the TPS plays a central role in molding the culture of the organization, and in
influencing the conduct of TPS members. Accordingly, it is important to ensure that the
most suitable candidates, who demonstrate the highest levels of emotional intelligence,
empathy, tolerance of diversity, and patience, are promoted to positions of influence
over other officers.
37. The TPS psychologists can play a unique and valuable role in identifying officers
for promotion who demonstrate desirable traits that will enable the TPS to continue to
develop a culture that is more focused on respect for officers’ mental health, and the
mental health of the society that the TPS serves.
4. Conflict between counselling and screening roles
38. Careful attention must be given to avoiding conflicts of interest for the TPS
psychologists. Members of the TPS may feel there is a conflict between the psychologists’
role as therapeutic counsellors under the Psychological Wellness Program, discussed in
Chapter 9 (The Mental Health of Police Personnel), and their role in screening officers
for new positions within the service. An officer may not feel comfortable developing a
relationship of trust with the psychologist as a counsellor, when the same psychologist
may play a role evaluating the officer’s professional advancement within the Service.
39. The Review was advised that the conflict issue is addressed by separating the
psychologists’ screening and counseling roles. If a psychologist is in a counselling
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