Reforms emerging at Schenectady police department | The Daily Gazette SECTIONS GAZETTE PHOTO Eric Clifford is sworn in as Schenectady's new police chief on Sept. 13, 2016 at Proctors. Shares0 Police recruits are already required to undergo psychological exams and polygraph tests. Now questioning by a panel of community residents has been added to the vetting process. The first applicant, an officer seeking a lateral transfer from a different police department, appeared last week before the six-member panel, which is tasked with civilian police oversight. The interview is designed to determine if candidates will be a good fit for policing diverse neighborhoods, gauging their mindset and expectations.