Found this in the Tribune
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0602050255feb05,1,4364375.s... Police exam allegations probed
Failed hopeful says meetings were brief
By Gary Washburn
Tribune staff reporter
Published February 5, 2006
Aldermen concerned about the screening process for police candidates heard Friday from a former U.S. Marine who said he failed the Chicago Police Department's psychological test three times after very short exams.
Elmore Dikes, 29, told the City Council's Police and Fire Committee that he passed other parts of the department's testing "with flying colors," only to be disqualified after brief meetings in 2001, 2003 and 2004 with contract psychologists hired by the Center for Applied Psychological Services. He said none of the meetings lasted more than seven minutes.
"I think I have something to offer," said Dikes, who was honorably discharged from the Marines after six years, being promoted to sergeant in just three. "I don't understand what exactly they are looking for and how I continuously fail the exam."
Earlier, Dr. Michael Roberts, president of the California-based Law Enforcement Psychological Service, told the committee that exams are scheduled to last 40 minutes and are virtually impossible to administer in less than 30.
Roberts' firm and the Chicago-based Center for Applied Psychological Services are joint venture partners that conduct Police Department testing.
Ald. Isaac Carothers (29th), the committee's chairman, said aldermen for years have received complaints about cursory exams from constituents interested in becoming officers.
If qualified candidates are being lost to a department hungry for talent because of poor testing, that "is a serious issue," Carothers said.
Roberts and Dr. Marva Dawkins, head of the Chicago testing company, said they would investigate Dikes' case.
Members of the committee also questioned why Dawkins' company has no African-American male or Latino psychologists to prevent cultural biases from seeping into the evaluation system.
At a committee meeting six years ago, the contractors took heat for the growing wash-out gap between African-Americans and whites. On Friday, Roberts reported the passing rate for blacks has remained level since then at 71 percent, but that rates have dropped sharply for whites (to 75 percent from 84 percent), Latinos (to 71 from 81) and Asians (to 64 from 73).