Various personal, medical, and emotional problems may cause poor job performance. To address these problems, certain large police departments such as Boston, New York, and Chicago have developed EAP's. The predominant type of EAP deals with a broad range of personal problems. Every police agency needs an EAP that works with management and for the employee. The program should protect employee rights and privacy and should assist employees in dealing with physical, psychological, and emotional problems that may adversely affect satisfactory job performance. Components of a successful EAP focus on who will be eligible to use the program, what the program's scope will be, where employees will be seen for assessment and referral services, whether benefits coverage is appropriate, how cases will be handled, where employees will be referred, how the program will be evaluated once it is in place, and what type of policy statement will be needed. The EAP will be enhanced when a police department has a fitness-for-duty policy and a strong disciplinary procedure that incorporates mandatory program referral as an alternative to punitive actions. An example of a request for EAP services is provided. 2 references.