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In 2012, Minneapolis eliminated 4 out of 5 psychological tests used to screen applicants for the police academy.
The tests were dropped despite a federal study of the MPD showing some of the tests were very effective at identifying problem officers.
https://psycheval.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Integrity-Project-Final-Report-12-19-04.pdf
The tests were dropped despite a federal study of the MPD showing some of the tests were very effective at identifying problem officers.
https://psycheval.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Integrity-Project-Final-Report-12-19-04.pdf
Psych tests can detect which officers are mentally equipped & responsible enough to make life & death decisions.
For 2 decades Minneapolis has taken an inconsistent approach to psych screening, frequently changing evaluators & letting them decide which tests to administer.
For 2 decades Minneapolis has taken an inconsistent approach to psych screening, frequently changing evaluators & letting them decide which tests to administer.
In a 2006 deposition, a Minneapolis Police Department official said he wasn't sure how to answer when he was asked who had the authority to hire psychological evaluators.
"You never know with the city," an attorney for Minneapolis said.
"You never know with the city," an attorney for Minneapolis said.
Minneapolis has repeatedly changed psychological evaluators over the last 12 years.
During 2011, the city didn't hire any police officers due to budgetary pressures.
During 2011, the city didn't hire any police officers due to budgetary pressures.
When Thomas Gratzer joined as evaluator in 2012, he quickly reduced from the 5 psych tests to one.
His CV shows no special degree or experience that would be a good indicator that he should make that call. https://features.apmreports.org/documents/?document=4328138-Thomas-Gratzer-CV
His CV shows no special degree or experience that would be a good indicator that he should make that call. https://features.apmreports.org/documents/?document=4328138-Thomas-Gratzer-CV
In fact, because he's a psychiatrist and not a psychologist, he doesn't seem to be qualified for the job at all.
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/6700.0700/
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/6700.0700/
Gratzer, who works for a company called EvaluMed, brought higher cost- it charged the city $1,300 per screening, which is 2-3x the amount Minneapolis paid previous mental health evaluators.
From 2012 to 2017, Minneapolis administered only one test, the MMPI-II-RF, which focuses on the applicant's mental stability.
The city hasn't included any formal testing of whether candidates are psychologically suitable.
The city hasn't included any formal testing of whether candidates are psychologically suitable.
In spite of all this, Minneapolis began to express concern that Gratzer wasn't hiring enough minorities or females.
He said diversifying the department is important, but not as important as hiring the best, most psychologically suited officers.
He said diversifying the department is important, but not as important as hiring the best, most psychologically suited officers.
"In the peace officer profession, the stakes are incredibly high," he said. "And while I absolutely want to see our diversity increase, because the stakes are so high, that can't be the only thing."
And yet, over the past 15 years, Minneapolis has fired some of the most qualified police psychologists in the state, and then turned to a succession of mental health professionals with little or no experience in the field. https://www.apmreports.org/story/2017/12/14/minneapolis-police-recruits-psychological-testing
In July 2017, the police shooting of Justine Damond triggered the city to scrutinize its psychological standards for police, with many claiming theyâd become lax.
Mohamed Noor, the officer who shot Damond, is Somali and was one of 200 cops approved by Gratzerâs standards over the past five years, which were already far below the national standard.
https://web.archive.org/web/20150908033909/http://lib.post.ca.gov/Publications/Peace_Officer_Psychological_Screening_Manual.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20150908033909/http://lib.post.ca.gov/Publications/Peace_Officer_Psychological_Screening_Manual.pdf
A 2017 study found that nearly 150 Minnesota police officers are convicted criminals. https://dailycaller.com/2017/10/02/nearly-150-minnesota-police-officers-are-convicted-criminals/
After Damond was shot by Noor, then-mayor Betsy Hodges took to Facebook immediately, coming to the defense of Minnesotaâs Somali community.
"It is unjust and ridiculous to assert that an entire community be held responsible for the actions of one person."
"It is unjust and ridiculous to assert that an entire community be held responsible for the actions of one person."
On June 7, 2019, Mohamed Noor was sentenced to 12½ years in prison.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/07/us/minneapolis-mohamed-noor-sentenced/index.html
https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/07/us/minneapolis-mohamed-noor-sentenced/index.html
On April 24, 2020 Mohamed filed an appeal for a new trial. The appeal argues prosecutors âdrew on demographic and gender biases to suggest that it was unreasonable for Noor to fear for his and officer Harrityâs safetyâ. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/25/justine-damond-shooting-conviction-debased-justice-system-mohamed-noor-claims
George Floyd opportunists have latched onto the case as an example now:
"There's only been one known conviction and sentencing of a police officer in Minnesota for murder. That's former Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor. He's Somali American and a Muslim." - Leila Fadel
"There's only been one known conviction and sentencing of a police officer in Minnesota for murder. That's former Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor. He's Somali American and a Muslim." - Leila Fadel
"Look at the black cop that killed the white lady. He got 12 1/2 years. And she - her family got, like, what? - $12 million or something like that?" - Shakyra Wilcox
"We can't control the past. All we can do is take the case that we have in front of us right now and do our good-faith best to bring justice to this situation. And we will." - Keith Ellison https://www.npr.org/2020/06/14/876714204/a-former-minneapolis-police-officers-case-shows-an-example-of-selective-justice
So Minneapolis doesn't follow proper mental health screening for police officers, hired a forensic psychiatrist instead of a psychologist to make key decisions for years, and even then when Minneapolis officials realized something was wrong... it was to push for diversity hires.
@threadreaderapp unroll please
