Candidates for police officers in the MUP KS Police Administration will undergo detailed psychological assessment

(Patria) - The Ministry of Internal Affairs - MUP KS Police Administration announced a new competition for 200 police officers on November 7, and the advertisement remains open until December 9.

Given that in recent months there have been several incidents involving MUP KS police officers, we asked Minister Admir Katica for clarification on whether psychological observation of candidates wishing to become police officers will be enhanced in this competition. We remind you that one female police officer committed suicide, another is in custody for inciting two individuals to steal car parts, and one police officer is in custody for pedophilia. Bearing in mind that police officers carry weapons and must make decisions even in stressful circumstances, a thorough psychological assessment is indeed necessary for future police officers, both for their own sake and for the safety of the citizens of Sarajevo Canton.

As stated in the MUP KS announcement, candidates who wish to apply cannot be older than 27 years of age, must have completed at least a IV level of education, be physically and mentally capable of performing police duties, and must not have been dismissed from any position in state administration bodies or institutions, nor should criminal proceedings be pending against them, etc.

In the response we received from Minister Katica, it is stated that the Public Institution Institute for the Health Protection of MUP KS Employees adopted the Methodology for Medical Examination of Candidates for Filling Vacant Positions of Police Officers in the Initial Rank of "Police Officer" on October 29, 2024, in accordance with the Law on Police Officers of Sarajevo Canton, the Rulebook on the Content, Method, and Schedule of Testing and the Scoring System for Candidates in the Selection Process of Police Officers in the MUP KS Police Administration, as well as the Rulebook on the Criteria and Method of Determining the Health Fitness of Police Officers of the MUP KS Police Administration.

"In accordance with the aforementioned methodology, medical examinations will be conducted by the Public Institution Institute for the Health Protection of MUP KS Employees, and will include the general and specific health fitness of candidates, who are referred for a medical examination by the Selection Commission.

Regarding your inquiry, this Methodology prescribes a list of diseases, injuries, physical defects, and health conditions that constitute an obstacle – a contraindication for performing the duties of police officers of the MUP KS Police Administration for candidates in the employment process, and it includes, among other things: organic and symptomatic mental disorders, psychoses, affective disorders, bipolar affective disorders and frequent depressive episodes, anxiety, phobic, dissociative, and stress-related disorders, psychopathy, sexual deviations, emotionally unstable personalities, suicide attempts, intentional self-harm, and other mental illnesses, mental states, and disorders.

In the process of assessing general and specific health fitness, candidates may also be referred for additional diagnostic procedures and examinations, and the Public Institution Institute for the Health Protection of MUP KS Employees may also consult with other medical doctors of specific specialties, and access the candidate's medical history through the e-Medit platform.

After the health examination is completed, the doctor provides a complete report and opinion on the examination in writing, and general and specific health fitness is determined by the assessment "Fit for performing police officer duties" or "Unfit for performing police officer duties".

As is evident from the above, the Ministry of Internal Affairs KS Police Administration has taken all legally prescribed measures to ensure that candidates for police officers undergo a complete assessment of their general health fitness, on which the medical profession has the final say," states Katica.

When asked if there is any plan for extraordinary psychological profiling of police officers or possible psychological support after the mentioned events, the minister stated:

"The Rulebook on the Criteria and Method of Determining the Health Fitness of Police Officers and the Method of Determining the Health Fitness of Police Officers of the MUP KS Police Administration regulates the criteria and method of determining the health fitness of police officers in the MUP KS Police Administration, including, among other things, the psychophysical examination of a police officer after the use of physical force, after the use of firearms, or participation in high-risk operations, as well as other issues that are important for their health and psychophysical condition".