Psychology Consultants Associated, the firm possibly responsible for evaluating a Baltimore policeman charged with killing Freddie Gray, is under investigation for failing to properly screen the city’s police officers.
The psychology firm has been put on probation and is being investigated by Baltimore’s law department and inspector general after the Maryland State Police found psychologists were completing officer evaluations in 15 minutes instead of the 45 required in its agreement with the state, according to cbsnews.com.
The evaluations are designed to evaluate officers’ mental health and fitness if they’ve been removed from duty due to psychological problems, but experts say 15 minutes isn’t a long enough time to determine an individual’s psychological state.
Psychology Consultants Associated is the only firm giving psychological evaluations for the city’s police department, and their contract will remain active until the investigation is complete.
Lieutenant Brian Rice, who was charged in May with manslaughter, second degree assault and misconduct related to the death of Freddie Gray, fit the description of an officer who would’ve been evaluated by the firm.
Rice was hospitalized in 2012 and had his gun confiscated after he was accused of threatening the mother of his child with a semi-automatic handgun.
The firm also held a contract with the Baltimore City Schools Police Department.
