Minneapolis Police Suspend Psychologist Over Possible Religious Bias

As reported here

Interim Chief Tim Dolan announced Aug. 24 that the police department would stop using Michael Campion's screening services until it could conduct an investigation into his relationship with the Illinois Family Institute (IFI) and whether his personal religious beliefs influence his psychological evaluations.

Campion was a member of IFI's Board of Directors from 1998 to 2005, according to IFI Executive Director David Smith. In a release issued Tuesday, Smith said it is "ironic that advocates of tolerance and diversity would deny Dr. Campion's right to exercise his First Amendment freedoms of speech and association, not to mention his freedom of religion."

Lt. Greg Reinhardt, a spokesman for the Minneapolis Police, declined to comment for this article. However, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that, Dolan admitted when he announced the suspension that there is "no indication of any bias in Campion's work."

Smith called the suspension the result of pro-homosexual activists targeting a Christian who believes homosexuality is wrong. Pro-family groups are defending the psychologist.

"The politically correct crowd is pressuring the city officials to suspend [Campion] because he is affiliated with a socially conservative religious organization," Smith said.

Smith told Cybercast News Service that he's confident Campion never let his personal beliefs about homosexuality affect his psychological evaluations.

"If you ask Dr. Campion if he's approved candidates for these positions even if they were homosexuals, he will tell you, of course he has," Smith said. "If they're qualified, they're qualified."

Smith criticized the Police Community Relations Council, the group that raised concerns about Campion's affiliation with IFI, for not proving he had done anything wrong. Smith said all the group has done is "taken a step back to complain about an affiliation and not necessarily how that affiliation has played out in his professional life."

Campion's firm, Campion, Barrow Associates, offers "comprehensive psychological services" and specializes in public safety and high stress positions, according to its website.

The company uses an evaluation called the "National Comprehensive Assessment for Public Safety," which "utilizes multiple sources of information from objective testing, background information, clinical interviews, and synthesizes them into an objective, valid and highly defensible actuarial risk rating designed to predict job performance."

According to the Star Tribune report, the police employ Campion as a freelance screener for the department, and he is not under contract. There is no indication Campion will not return to the job if the investigation shows no bias.

Calls requesting comment from Campion were not returned Wednesday.