Last month's attempted robbery by a Tucson Police Department officer, which resulted in his death, has left questions about hiring policies and procedures of law enforcement agencies.

Stringent testing is performed by TPD as well as the University of Arizona Police Department in its selection of candidates for positions in law enforcement, said Harry R. Hueston II, deputy chief of UAPD.

"What TPD is going through we have gone through, and the entire police profession suffers," Hueston said. "It taints the department."

All law enforcement agencies throughout Arizona administer the same test to potential officers, which is designed to meet the qualifications set by the state through Arizona Peace Office Standards and Training.

Those minimum requirements consist of reading and writing skills, including spelling and punctuation, Hueston said. More in-depth testing includes observation and memory testing along with psychological testing, said Thierry D. Sloan, recruiting officer for TPD.

TPD gives two tests to weigh the psychological profile of an individual, Sloan said. These tests are the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory and the California Psychological Institute test.

After psychological tests are given, both agencies conduct background investigations on potential employees. The background check consists of traffic and criminal history, drug problems or convictions, financial history, and relations with previous co-workers.

"I have had four of five officers involved in criminal activity and have had to de-certify those individuals," said Hueston, who has worked with UAPD since 1985. "There are no tests that will guarantee an individual you hire will not commit an unlawful act while working as an officer."

"UAPD has the same problems TPD has; however, the age group here at the UA provides the environment we work with," Hueston said. He said some of the areas that make UAPD's concerns different from TPD is the fact that they are dealing with games, concerts and codes of conduct.

"Our actions are under closer scrutiny than TPD because of the ages dealt with here at the UA," Hueston said. "UAPD's authority is always questioned, and we have to continuously educate the community because it's constantly rejuvenated as people graduate. Then, you start over again."