Would-be officer's psych exam appeal may have altered hiring policy
A Pittsburgh police officer who initially failed a pre-employment psychological exam and stands accused of attempted rape and other crimes may have helped change how the city determines whether prospective officers are suited for the job.
Adam Skweres, 34, of Lincoln Place appealed in 2006 after failing his first exam, passed a second one and was hired.
No one in the city's personnel office can recall a time before Skweres' appeal that a second psychological examination was allowed, said Judy Hill Finegan, director of personnel and the Civil Service Commission. Two months after Skweres' second evaluation, the city changed its rules to allow a second test.
"I would think we evaluated and thought, 'Hey, we better make some changes here.' But that's me looking backward and not being there," Hill Finegan said.
A candidate who fails the first psychological evaluation can appeal to the commission and receive a second examination by another city-appointed psychologist. If that psychologist rejects the applicant, the decision is final. But if the second psychologist finds the candidate suitable, the two meet with a third specialist to make a final determination. Each psychological exam costs the city about $225, Hill Finegan said.
She could not say how many officers the psychologists have approved in that way but said the process is under review.
"I think we have a fair process in place right now," Hill Finegan said. "But I'm still going to look at it."
Skweres remained jailed on Wednesday on charges of oppression, coercion, bribery, indecent assault and attempted rape after passing a court-ordered behavioral evaluation this week, said his attorney, Phillip DiLucente. Pittsburgh police accuse Skweres of using his power and position as an officer to try to coerce women into sex and suspended him without pay.
Dr. Irvin P.R. Guyett is the psychologist who determined Skweres was not psychologically suited for police work in 2005, according to Civil Service Commission records. Guyett reviewed Skweres' background file, the results of a written psychological test and interviewed him before making his determination.
Guyett said yesterday he could not comment on the specifics of Skweres' case.
Skweres appealed Guyett's assessment of him to the Civil Service Commission in January 2006. Skweres' attorney, Paul Boas, told the commission its rules did not allow for a second test to determine a candidate's psychological suitability. In February 2006, another city-appointed psychologist, Dr. Alexander Levy, re-evaluated Skweres and deemed him psychologically suitable. The city hired him as an officer in February 2007.
"I am very concerned about not just the abuse of power in the police department, but abuse of power against women," Guyett said. "I was more than disappointed."
The investigation of Skweres began after a woman complained to the city's Office of Municipal Investigations in 2008. Three other women complained that he tried to trade favors for sex. When Guyett saw the news reports on Skweres, he looked up his records and saw that he deemed him unfit, but said, "there's no gratification in that."
Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey A. Manning delayed Skweres' release under electronic monitoring pending the behavioral assessment. DiLucente said he hoped to be back before the judge as early as today to secure Skweres' release.
