Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here
Otherwise, follow the link below to join.
To Our Valued Readers –
Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.
For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.
Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.
Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.
The Scottsdale Police Department has contracted with a local psychologist to provide psychological evaluations.
The Scottsdale City Council approved the contract with Dr. Jeni McCutcheon at its Sept. 8 meeting. Dr. McCutcheon’s services to the police department include preemployment candidate testing, non-preemployment well-being checks, military reintegration and post-shooting or use-of-force critical intervention.
According to a city staff report, psychological evaluations are critical in police hiring to comply with Arizona regulations; and to select only those candidates capable of performing the complex and challenging duties of a police officer.
Civilian employees also are exposed to highly sensitive and confidential information, and preemployment evaluations are used to help identify job suitability, the staff report stated.
The services also will be used when there are critical situations that require psychological screening and assessment after an incident to determine the employee’s fitness and safety, the staff report stated.
“Critical incident intervention is valuable in assisting officers in coping with their reactions and needs,” the report penned by Assistant Police Chief Helen Gandara stated.
The cost per evaluation is based on the type of assessment. Based on last year’s needs, the contracts’ expected cost is expected to be approximately $30,000 annually.
Current funding exists within the police department budget for the evaluation, Ms. Gandara stated.
According to her website, Dr. McCutcheon is a Phoenix-based board-certified psychologist in police and public safety psychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology.
Dr. McCutcheon states on her website that she has provided services to more than 50 Arizona police and public safety agencies.
Melissa Rosequist Managing Editor | East Valley @mrosequist_
I first started my journalism portfolio at the age of 15 while in high school before going on to study at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Being in the journalism field is the only professional avenue I was ever interested in, and have worked hard covering topics from school boards to hard news while working for the Independent, where I have been awarded for my reporting.
By 
