A History of Police Psychology

This chapter briefly identifies important societal events and governmental responses that set the stage for the emergence of the specialty of police psychology, provides the names and departments of early practitioners (1963-1990) of police psychology, and explains how the current definition of police psychology was developed, with its four domains and 55 proficiencies. The maturation of the specialty is outlined from its recognition as an American Psychological Association (APA) proficiency, to the creation of an American Board of Police & Public Safety Psychology (ABPPSP) specialty board, and most recently to its recognition as an APA specialty.