* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: President Young
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
Investigative Hearing - Mental Health Contracts
FOR the purpose of calling on the Department of Finance and the Baltimore City Police Department to appear before the City Council to discuss the City's contracts for mental health screenings and psychological services, the past and future costs of these screenings and services, and the oversight and management of these screenings and services.
body
Recitals
The City of Baltimore has used a contractor through a sole-source contract since 2005 to provide evaluations of prospective police officers, counsel police officers involved in violent and traumatic incidents, and provide certain services for police officers dealing with problems such as alcoholism, anger management, domestic issues, and other issues.
On August 6, 2015, the Baltimore Sun published an article titled �Provider of Mental Health Evaluations for Baltimore Police Under Investigation�. This article identified a number of alleged issues with the contractor, included that the contractor conducted evaluations for as few as fifteen minutes, rather than the hour required under its contract.
The August 6th article was followed by a second article on August 7, 2015, indicating the psychological services contractor was under investigation for its work in evaluating Officer Angeline Todman, who committed suicide after receiving services from the mental health services contractor.
On August 7, 2015, a press release was issued by the Mayor�s Office announcing that �?Baltimore City will immediately suspend referring any additional employees, police officers or their family members to Psychology Consultants Associated P.A. (PCA), pending the outcome of ongoing investigations from the city�s law department and office of the inspector general.�
In order to prevent future issue such as those currently surrounding the City�s sole contractor for psychological operations and assessments, it is important to understand all of the facts surrounding the psychological services provided to the Baltimore Police Department, how the Police Department and Finance Department intend to move forward in procuring future psychological services, and how these services will be operated and administered.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Council calls on the Department of Finance and the Baltimore City Police Department to appear before the City Council to discuss the City�s contracts for mental health screenings and psychological services, the past and future costs of these screenings and services, and the oversight and management of these screenings and services.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Director of Finance, the Police Commissioner, and the Mayor�s Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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