Psychologist; Dallas Police; Civil Service

Job Summary

The Psychologist performs professional level counseling, psychological testing, evaluation, and screening, and ensures police officers are mentally stable to perform work.

• Counsels, advises, and provides professional support for DPD employees experiencing personal and job-related psychological difficulties; counsels immediate family members and non-sworn employees.
• Conducts physiological testing and screening as a result of behavioral cause investigations and determines whether or not police officers are fit or unfit for duty.
• Performs and conducts pre-employment diagnostic evaluations of uniformed applicants to determine psychological stability; administers various psychological instruments and conducts extensive interviews with candidates.
• Designs and develops psychological projects to ensure compliance with TCOLE rules and to ensure mental fitness of police officers; designs and implements police officer profile systems, and pre-employment psychological screening projects.
• Conducts psychological evaluations of other employees who are required to carry a firearm such as City Marshal applicants, Dallas Security and Police Department special unit transfers.
• Conducts predictive and concurrent validity studies to identify valid selection instruments.
• Testifies in court as needed regarding psychological/emotional suitability of employees.
• Performs any and all other work as needed or assigned.

• Thorough knowledge of principles and practices of clinical psychology, psychological testing and interpretation, and diagnosis of mental and emotional disorders and treatment.
• Thorough knowledge of research design and psychometric principles.
• Thorough knowledge of statistical analysis and validation procedures.
• Thorough knowledge of TCOLE (Texas Commission on Law Enforcement) guidelines, state confidentiality laws, APA (American Psychological Association) professional standards, and record retention laws.
• Knowledge of safety procedures and the use of safety gear.
• Ability to organize, plan, and direct diagnostic programs.
• Ability to counsel and provide psychological analysis in a safe and effective manner.
• Ability to give expert testimony in court.
• Communicating effectively verbally and in writing.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.

• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) OR
• Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) OR
• Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from an accredited college or university

• Two (2) years of post-doctoral experience in counseling and conducting evaluations.

• Valid driver’s license with good driving record.
• Licensed or eligible to be licensed (within six months from hiring date) by the State of Texas as a Psychologist.

• Must pass intensive background investigation.
• No FELONY or Class A MISDEMEANOR convictions.
• No Class B MISDEMEANOR convictions within the last ten (10) years.
• No family violence convictions.
• Cannot currently be on deferred adjudication for any FELONY, Class A or Class B MISDEMEANOR.

• Experience working for a public safety or government agency
• Ability to work with various units within the department
• Demonstrated skill balancing a counseling caseload and other duties
• Experience conducting preemployment evaluations and/or general psychological evaluations
• Experience with empirically supported treatment modalities for a broad range of disorders
• Experience providing mental health counseling to trauma exposed populations
• Experience with couple’s and family counseling
• Ability to travel to more than one work location
  
  Experience working with clients who may experience critical incident stress
• Ability to respond to emergency scenes or situations as requested

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The salary listed on this job posting is the starting salary range; amount offered will depend upon qualifications.

City of Dallas is an Equal Opportunity Employer.