High-stakes psychological evaluations – where careers, freedom, and public safety hang in the balance – require a level of expertise that most clinicians never encounter. Bruce Cappo has spent over three decades mastering this specialised arena, becoming one of America’s leading forensic psychologists and police psychology specialists.
As a board-certified specialist in Police and Public Safety Psychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP), Dr. Cappo founded Clinical Associates in 1992, building it into a multidisciplinary practice serving more than 85 professionals across Kansas and Missouri. His recognition as Fellow and Past-President of both the Kansas Psychological Association and Kansas Association of Professional Psychologists reflects his leadership in advancing psychological practice at the highest levels.
Dr. Cappo’s expertise spans three critical areas: forensic evaluations and consultation, risk and public safety assessments, and complex diagnostic evaluations. He provides psychological evaluations for federal agencies including DEA, ICE, TSA, and Homeland Security, while serving as consultant to multiple police departments including Overland Park Police Department. His work extends to the most challenging cases – competency evaluations, fitness for duty assessments, sex offender evaluations, and mental status determinations for federal and state courts.
What sets his training apart is real-world application under pressure. Cappo doesn’t just teach assessment theory – he shows clinicians how to conduct evaluations that withstand legal scrutiny, how to write reports that inform critical decisions, and how to testify effectively in court. His experience with the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, federal court systems, and high-security evaluations gives him insights that few practitioners possess.
For your practice, expect to gain specific skills in conducting forensic assessments, understanding the intersection of psychology and law, and developing the clinical judgment needed for high-stakes evaluations. His methods particularly benefit clinicians interested in forensic work, public safety psychology, or complex diagnostic cases.
Quick Win: Cappo’s structured approach to fitness-for-duty evaluations helps clinicians distinguish between temporary stress responses and more serious psychological conditions that impact job performance – a distinction with major career and safety implications.
Qualifications
- Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, University of Kansas, 1987
- M.A., Clinical Psychology, University of Kansas, 1983
- B.A., Psychology (with distinction), University of Kansas, 1982
- APA-approved internship, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 1986–1987
- American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) Board Certified Specialist in Police and Public Safety Psychology, 2011
- Licensed Psychologist: Kansas, Missouri, Illinois
- National Register of Health Care Providers in Psychology
- Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) certified
Leadership & Recognition
- Fellow, Kansas Psychological Association
- Past-President, Kansas Psychological Association
- Past-President, Kansas Association of Professional Psychologists
- University of Minnesota Press Advisory Committee member (psychological assessment)
- Ad Hoc reviewer for multiple professional journals
Teaching & Roles
- Founder & Director, Clinical Associates, P.A., Lenexa, KS, 1992–present
- Owner, STAT Corporation, 1991–present
- Instructor, Abnormal Psychology, United States Penitentiary, Leavenworth, KS
- Instructor, General Psychology & Abnormal Psychology, Rockhurst University, Kansas City, MO
Ready to develop expertise in high-stakes psychological assessment? Discover how Dr. Cappo’s forensic methods can elevate your clinical skills and expand your practice into specialised evaluation work.