The Final Report of the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing noted that the quality of American policing depends upon the quality of its officers and stressed the importance of hiring individuals who reflect the diversity and values of the community - and also have the character and social skills to positively engage with it. This was emphasized in a later task force meeting with President Obama, who asked the COPS Office to explore promising practices and policies for hiring and retaining officers who meet these requirements. In response, the COPS Office and the Police Executive Research Forum hosted the Hiring for the 21st Century Law Enforcement forum. This report details the discussions and recommendations of the forum, which included experts in police standards, screening, and hiring. Their insights and recommendations in areas such as psychological screening, educational requirements, promotion policies, and methods for retaining the best officers can be of great value to Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) commissions, HR, and agency executives.
