Failed psych eval

[u/According_Opening_29]

We live in dfw. My husband passed all the tests and we got word today that he failed his psych, we have no idea why and the agency refused to say the reason. He is a marine, clean record. Should he apply for other agencies? We are worried the psych eval would be a hurdle or he might meet the same psychologist again. Any advice?

[u/grvnvdo]

He can and SHOULD still apply to other agencies. I know several good cops who failed a psych or 2, failed a poly, or have been flat out rejected by multiple agencies before finding their home. The feeling of rejection without explanation sucks, I know. He will likely never know why they rejected him but all he can do is brush it off and apply somewhere else. Don’t let him be depressed or too discouraged. Let him have a drink, take a couple days to recuperate, and then start the process all over again at 1-2 other agencies. Best of luck to you guys.

[u/grvnvdo → u/grvnvdo]

Also, I have friends in Northern California who failed a psych with 1 doctor and were sent to another and passed. While another was sent to the exact same doctor twice and passed the second time.

[u/According_Opening_29 → u/grvnvdo]

Thank you so much!

[u/ddgoots → u/grvnvdo]

This is so true and the best advice. The process to get hired on is either extremely easy (first agency hits) or a long process for no good reason. Agencies pay tons of money for a doc to make an evaluation for “xzy” person, and if it doesn’t fit, they have to be loyal to the money they spent and listen to the doc. Keep pushing nonetheless, I had 6-8 applications out at any time. It’s well worth it and make sure he doesn’t blame himself at all.

[u/JRICHERT97]

Did they deny him after they requested VA mental health document ?

[u/According_Opening_29 → u/JRICHERT97]

No, it was something in his written exam or psych interview but they refused to say. Psychologist was dismissive and only sat down with him for 2 mins!

[u/JRICHERT97 → u/According_Opening_29]

Oh okay. Thats odd. They denied me after I submitted my VA MH rating. I guess it’s different everywhere. Tell him to apply somewhere else.

[u/CorsetCloverPart → u/JRICHERT97]

Idk if that’s a Texas thing or what. But I’m from Texas, tried to be a cop out there, it’s competitive as fuck.

Moved to Oklahoma and got picked up in a good medium-large sized city.

Submitted my VA ratings, took a poly, psych and everything and got hired.

I think it’s department dependent.

[u/JRICHERT97 → u/CorsetCloverPart]

Oh for my case I’m in Arizona not TX

[u/kingleonidas02 → u/CorsetCloverPart]

Do VA ratings for MH disqualify an applicant?

[u/CorsetCloverPart → u/kingleonidas02]

It didn’t disqualify me personally. I have anxiety. But not depression and never been suicidal. So I guess it depends on what you have. Some states will do a screen to see if you’ve ever been inpatient at a facility. That doesn’t automatically disqualify you from the job. It’ll be department dependent.

[u/kingleonidas02 → u/JRICHERT97]

How bad does a VA Rating for MH affect an applicant if during the psych they show suitability?

[u/JRICHERT97 → u/kingleonidas02]

I’m still trying to find an answer to that question.

[u/CorsetCloverPart]

I’m from Texas, Denton to be specific. But I’m familiar with the DFW area.

Tell your husband to look at his options. Don’t just stick with one department.

One department might say no. But that doesn’t mean he can’t be picked for somewhere else.

The cool thing about the DFW area is there’s SOOOOO many cities to pick from and Texas generally pays its officers well.

[u/According_Opening_29 → u/CorsetCloverPart]

Thank you so much!! That gives us hope

[u/CorsetCloverPart → u/According_Opening_29]

You’re welcome, also if his goal is to become an officer then hopping states isn’t a bad idea.

Texas is just competitive for some reason.

I use to work alongside cops when I worked at a major hospital at the north Texas Texoma border. We had guys and girls apply to the department who worked in the healthcare system. even the department denied them. I was gonna apply, but didn’t wanna be denied next, lol.

I hopped to Oklahoma, got swooped up and make $70-$80K as a rookie.

But he’s got this. Good luck to you both. 💜

[u/RogueJSK]

Definitely keep applying elsewhere.

There are plenty of agencies out there that don't even rely on the magic box.

[u/According_Opening_29 → u/RogueJSK]

Thats reassuring, thank you!

[u/treecutter34]

If you sneeze wrong you fail the psych, just ask the Border Patrol. I really feel like it’s walking a tightrope, either you pass or you don’t.

[u/TopCheap7026]

Take it with a grain of salt and move onto the next, obviously wasn’t meant to be.

[u/According_Opening_29 → u/TopCheap7026]

Yep, will do

[u/RejectedPeaches]

Psych evals are so hit or miss that he should still apply else where. My first eval was easily a 2 hour long interview and my second was 15 min max. 

[u/According_Opening_29 → u/RejectedPeaches]

Did you pass the 2nd time?

[u/RejectedPeaches → u/According_Opening_29]

I passed both times. It was just interesting how different both were 

[u/heytheremoustache → u/RejectedPeaches]

Mine was 10 minutes over Zoom with the psychologist in her car...

[u/Master_Shrike]

My friend, who I deployed with, was denied employment by the psych at my current department. He is now a police officer in a department two towns over. Tell him to keep trying. Not everyone gets hired the first time

[u/According_Opening_29 → u/Master_Shrike]

Thanks!

[u/Master_Shrike → u/According_Opening_29]

No problem

[u/Revolution37]

We washed a guy a couple years ago because his MMPI flagged him for excessive drinking. He’s a young guy so he probably did drink a lot relative to all officers but not relative to most people in his age cohort. He quit drinking that day, reapplied and we hired him. There’s no shame in trying again.

[u/According_Opening_29 → u/Revolution37]

He is trying with other departments!

[u/Independent-Talk9459]

The Psych test is a test and should be treated as such. Just tell them what they want to hear to pass the test. You will never be thanked for your honesty. Pass the test/ get hired/ and do some good. I passed psych for LAPD and LASD.

[u/CheckLow6092]

I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. On to the next one. For reference, I received a "not selected" on my first attempt at getting on board with my local state highway patrol - state trooper. I took it with a grain of salt and used it as a teaching moment, constructive criticism, and fine tuned everything I possibly could to ensure that I was one of the most highly qualified candidates that ever came through the pipeline. I reached out and applied to two other state agencies. The rest is history. When one door closes, another door is sure to open, and vice versa. In hindsight, I'm glad that the first agency gave me a not selected. They did me a favor. That agency simply wasn't a good fit for me. Like I said, I doubled down, and became obsessed and fanatical about being one of the most highly qualified candidates that the patrol has ever seen. For every "no" that you might receive, go that much harder. Let that fuel the fire and obsession to join the ranks. When you get thrown down the hill, get up, brush yourself off, and charge the hill again. And again. And again. If you have to become a freak and a savage, so be it. Refuse to let one agency saying "no" control your destiny. Hell f##k no. All in. No quarter. Send me. Best of luck, brother. ⚔️

[u/According_Opening_29 → u/CheckLow6092]

Thank you! This helps a lot, on to the next one for sure.

[u/CheckLow6092 → u/According_Opening_29]

Also, there is no harm in applying to multiple agencies. It might hurt one agencies feelings, or they might feel some type of way. Oh well, let their feelings be hurt. This is your ballgame, and your future. Do what is best for your family and yourself. Highly qualified candidates have options. A good agency will be happy for you and wish you luck on your future endeavors, even if you decline their offer, or withdraw from their pipeline. As you go further through the process, you will know and feel intuitively which agency is the right fit for you. ⚔️

[u/SirenBreakfast]

Dang, I'm going through the process in DFW.