In 1916, psychologist, Dr. Lewis Terman was hired to assess the suitability of police applicants for the San Jose, California Police Department. Thus began the relationship between law enforcement and professional psychology. In 1967 a presidential commission recommended the use of psychological testing for the identification and measurement of “characteristics that contribute to good police work.” This mandate has taken on increasing importance as the challenges of modern law enforcement and public safety services have evolved through the years. One factor however, has remained constant: the need to select suitable candidates for public safety positions.