Psych firm that screens Baltimore cops under review

BALTIMORE -- Investigations launched by three agencies into a psychological firm tasked with assessing the mental health of Baltimore's police, including an officer charged in the death of Freddie Gray, are raising questions about whether officers are screened adequately for psychological issues before being placed on active duty.

Baltimore's law department and inspector general have opened investigations into Psychology Consultants Associated and the firm's president, Kenneth Sachs, after allegations of contractual violations were made, said Kevin Harris, a spokesman for the city.

And the Maryland State Police, which also holds a contract with PCA, already has taken action. The agency placed the firm on probation in June after an investigation showed PCA was completing evaluations of officers' mental stability in 15 minutes instead of the 45 minutes required by the state contract, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.

Experts say 15 minutes is far too short to conduct psychological assessments adequately for police applicants or officers seeking to return to active duty.

Harris said PCA is the police department's sole contractor for psychological evaluations of officers. The contract still is active and will remain in place "pending the conclusion of the investigation," he said.

Maj. Stephen Reynolds, assistant warden of the Carroll County Detention Center, which uses PCA's services on a case-by-case basis but does not hold a contract with the firm, said he plans on speaking with Sachs and "gaining his perspective before taking any further action."

As part of his contract with Baltimore police, Sachs assessed the mental health and fitness for duty of officers who were removed from active duty due to psychological problems.

That should have included Lt. Brian Rice, who was hospitalized over mental-health concerns in April 2012 and had his guns confiscated by Carroll County sheriff's deputies.

Court records and the sheriff's reports raised concerns about Rice's self-control and judgment. Rice was accused in June 2012 of removing a semi-automatic handgun from the trunk of his personal vehicle and threatening the mother of his child.

Michael A. Wood, a retired Baltimore police sergeant who said he wrote the department's medical policy, said Rice "absolutely would have had a fitness for duty evaluation and would have been referred to PCA. It would have been required."

In May, Rice was charged with manslaughter, second-degree assault and misconduct in office in connection with Gray's death from injuries suffered while in police custody. Five other officers also were charged in connection with Gray's death.

Baltimore police referred questions about PCA to city hall.

In the past five years, PCA has worked with more than a dozen Maryland law-enforcement agencies, including the Baltimore City Schools Police, the Maryland Transportation Authority Police Department and the Baltimore City Sheriff's Department.

The state police placed Sachs and PCA on probation June 10 after determining the firm spent 15 minutes evaluating the mental health of officers seeking to return to active duty and of police academy applicants, state police documents showed.

A June 10 performance report from the state police said the investigation was triggered by a complaint.

The complaint came from psychologist Tali Shokek, whom Sachs offered part-time work. In an email she forwarded to city and state agencies, Sachs told her, "it takes me 15-20 minutes to interview and dictate a boilerplate report."

Richard Berger, a lawyer for Sachs, denied the allegations.