Louisiana Police Department Can't Hire Any Cops Because They All Fail Insurer's Psych Test

PORT ALLEN — The Police Department is having difficulty filling three full-time positions because candidates cannot seem to pass a psychological exam mandated by the company that insures the agency, Police Chief Ken Bates said.

Last week, Bates told Mayor Roger Bergeron and the City Council that his confidence in the Matrix Test had “depleted” after two candidates he felt were highly qualified to join his police force recently failed the exam.

Bates said one candidate has more than 20 years of experience in law enforcement and was honorably discharged from the military.

“I’ve spoken with other chiefs that have the same concerns,” Bates said. “While I understand their test is designed to get the right people, I don’t know if it pertains to each and every person on an individual basis.”

[...]Cronin said his company uses the test as an underwriting tool to limit its exposure to liability for the people it insures.

[Police Chief Ken Bates] said that despite the shortage, the 16 full-time officers on the force have been effectively patrolling the city and “gathering information” on pending investigations. The chief said, overall, the city’s crime rate has declined despite a “slight” increase in burglaries.