When an officer is involved in a shooting or another serious use-of-force incident, they are often sent for a fitness for duty exam (FFDE) prior to returning to work. If an officer is engaging in high-risk behavior, such as using excessive force, or being flagged for disciplinary issues, they are also likely to be sent for an FFDE, even in the absence of a critical incident.

Fitness for duty exams, usually conducted by police psychologists, have historically centered solely around mental health issues the officer might be facing. Exams include interviewing the officer and conducting appropriate psychological testing, examining for possible symptoms of depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) resulting from the incident or any other factor(s) that might be causing the behavioral concerns that led to the FFDE referral.

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