Provider of mental health evaluations for Baltimore police under investigation

The company contracted to conduct mental health screens of aspiring Baltimore police officers is under investigation by the city's inspector general and legal department over allegations that it rushed those evaluations, according to city officials and documents obtained by The Baltimore Sun.

The investigation focuses on whether Lutherville-based Psychology Consultants Associated fulfilled the requirements of its $730,000, two-year contract with the city. PCA allegedly conducted evaluations of prospective police officers in as little as 15 minutes, instead of the hour required under the contract to clear them for service, officials said.

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Beyond screening prospective officers — the Baltimore department has hired 1,875 new officers since 2005 — PCA counsels officers involved in violent or traumatic incidents, including police shootings, as well as those with other issues such as alcoholism, anger management, domestic problems and violent tendencies. The force has about 3,000 officers.

Richard G. Berger, an attorney for PCA's president, Dr. Kenneth Sachs, and the company, said Wednesday that Sachs denies "all allegations" against him and his firm.

"He has not violated any regulations, and that was supported by a decision by the Maryland State Police," Berger said. He acknowledged the company had been put on probation by the state police.

"At this time, we're unaware of any other investigations that may be ongoing," Berger added, "but we deny everything."

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The allegations come as the city Police Department seeks to combat deep-seated community mistrust based on widespread claims of police brutality, particularly against poor black residents, and a lack of community engagement from officers considered gruff or antagonistic by some community leaders and activists.

The department is also trying to improve relations with its rank-and-file officers, some of whom have complained of being thrown into dangerous and traumatizing situations during the unrest following the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray, who sustained a fatal spinal cord injury while in police custody in April.

Baltimore police have been plagued by allegations of misconduct by officers, and the department is under a sweeping federal review by the Justice Department. In October, a Sun investigation revealed that police leaders, city attorneys and other top officials were not keeping track of officers who repeatedly faced lawsuits alleging brutality, despite the city's paying out millions of dollars to settle such claims in court.

The city signed a two-year contract with PCA in 2013 for $730,000. The contract expired in April; officials did not respond to questions about whether the city approved an extension allowed in the contract. State police signed a five-year contract with the company in 2014 for $400,000.

On its website, PCA describes itself as "one of the first psychological group practices of its kind" in Maryland.

"We have successfully been treating patients since 1972 and have 'written the book' on how a good mental health practice should operate," its website says.

The investigations began after psychologist Tali Shokek brought concerns about an email she said she received from Sachs in April to various state and city officials, including the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the state attorney general's office, Maryland State Police, the Baltimore Police Department, and the mayor's administration.

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In an April 8 email Shokek provided to The Sun, Sachs writes, "Tali, Are you licensed as a psychologist? If so, we have a bunch of brief evals to do for selection of police officers. It is a structured interview and you [will] have some scored psych tests. You can see 5-10 per day and perhaps more. It takes me 15-20 minutes to interview and dictate a boilerplate report. You'll see 3-4 per hour and get paid $50 each. Give me a call if interested. Ken."

Shokek said she was alarmed after receiving the email and speaking with Sachs on the phone, and felt obligated to report her experience to the various agencies.

"There's not much you can glean from being with a person for 15 or 20 minutes," Shokek said in an interview. "If ... he doesn't evaluate them as long as he should be, essentially what he's doing is allowing people who haven't been screened to be on the street and to have a weapon on the street."

Gene Ryan, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 3, the union that represents rank-and-file officers, said he had no knowledge of the allegations. Ryan said he couldn't speak to individual officers' experiences because that information is protected by federal privacy laws.

"It's a city contract with which we have no input," he said. "In fact, we don't even know what's in the contract."

Documents obtained through a public information request show that when Shokek took her concerns to the attorney general's office, it directed her to the Maryland Board of Examiners of Psychologists. The board reviews complaints against psychologists.

Lorraine Smith, executive director of the board, declined to comment.

Experts in the field questioned the ability of a psychologist to conduct a screening in 15 or 20 minutes — even when those psychologists are provided the results of background checks on the individuals ahead of time.

"I have not been able to figure out a way to get comprehensive information, even from a very young applicant with minimal work history, minimal issues, in less than 30 minutes," said Heather McElroy, vice chair of the psychological services section for the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

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