IN 1976, SEVERAL DOZEN POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON AGREED TO PARTICIPATE IN A COOPERATIVE STUDY OF ENTRY-LEVEL POLICE OFFICER SELECTION PROCEDURES. THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO DEVELOP AND VALIDATE A NUMBER OF ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES APPROPRIATE FOR THE SELECTION OF ENTRY-LEVEL POLICE OFFICERS. A NUMBER OF SPECIFIC PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS AND CAPABILITIES WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE STUDY AS ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE OF A POLICE OFFICER: APPEARANCE, DEPENDABILITY, INITIATIVE, INTEGRITY, INTERPERSONAL SKILL, ORAL COMMUNICATION SKILL, PHYSICAL ABILITY, READING SKILL, SELF-CONTROL, SITUATIONAL REASONING ABILITY, AND WRITING SKILL. THE MANUAL PROVIDES PROCEDURE TO ASSIST IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF APPLICANTS WHO DO NOT POSSESS MINIMUM LEVELS OF QUALIFICATION IN THE AREAS OF DEPENDABILITY, INITIATIVE, INTEGRITY, INTERPERSONAL SKILL, PHYSICAL ABILITY, SELF-CONTROL, AND SITUATIONAL REASONING ABILITY. GENERAL LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS PERTINENT TO OFFICER SELECTION ARE THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, METHODS OF TEST VALIDATION IN INVESTIGATIVE PROCEDURES, FEDERAL COURT CASES ON BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS, THE JOB-RELATEDNESS OF BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS, AND THE WASHINGTON STATE LAW AGAINST DISCRIMINATION. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS IN THE CONDUCT OF BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS ARE THE RECOGNITION THAT THEY ARE NOT CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS, OBJECTIVITY, THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY, AND GOOD PUBLIC RELATIONS. BACKGROUND AREAS TO BE INVESTIGATED INCLUDE WORK HISTORY, UNEMPLOYMENT RECORD, MILITARY RECORD, EDUCATIONAL HISTORY, CRIMINAL RECORD, TRAFFIC RECORD, INTERPERSONAL HISTORY, FINANCIAL HISTORY, MEDICAL HISTORY, EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS, THE USE OF NARCOTICS AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, THE USE OF ALCOHOL, FRIENDS AND RELATIVES, MEMBERSHIP IN GROUPS, AND GENERAL REPUTATION. GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING BACKGROUND EVIDENCE AND DUE PROCESS CONSIDERATIONS ARE EXAMINED. FORMS USED IN THE CONDUCT OF BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS AND RELATED INFORMATION ARE APPENDED. (DEP)