CAMPION091207

Illinois consulting firm suing Minneapolis

Saying he was unfairly dismissed because of personal ties, a psychologist has filed suit against the city and its mayor.

By Rochelle Olson, Star Tribune

Last update: September 11, 2007 - 11:26 PM

The psychologist suspended by the Minneapolis Police Department last year because of concerns about his ties to a group opposing gay rights filed a federal discrimination lawsuit Tuesday against Mayor R.T. Rybak and the city of Minneapolis.

Michael Campion of Champaign, Ill.,-based Campion, Barrow and Associates filed the claim on behalf of himself and his consulting firm. He argued that the city refused his proposal to screen applicants last year because of his "association with the Illinois Family Institute and because of his religious beliefs and statements."

Barrow and Associates had been scheduled to conduct 62 job candidate screening tests for the Minneapolis Police Department last October. The city rescinded its agreement and hired DRI Consulting even though DRI was less qualified and charged $650 per evaluation, more than the $395 per evaluation to be charged by Campion's group, the suit said.

The city hired DRI, the suit said, because of "Campion's religious beliefs and because of his affiliation with the Illinois Family Institute."

The termination of Campion's services violates his First Amendment rights of freedom of association and freedom of speech, the lawsuit said.

Along with the city's decision, "stigmatizing statements" were made by some city officials and Police Community Relations Council (PCRC) members "calculated to seriously damage Dr. Campion's standing in his profession," the lawsuit said.

The suit seeks unspecified damages.

Campion was a board member for the nonprofit Illinois Family Institute until a couple of years ago. The institute says it advocates for religious freedom and opposes gay marriage, civil rights protection for gays, abortion and embryonic stem cell research.

Concerns about Campion first came from the PCRC after an article was published in an Illinois newspaper about his affiliation with the institute.

The Minneapolis Police Department began using Campion's services in the spring of 2005 and stopped last fall. Campion's business has performed psychological testing for 33 years for more than 100 law enforcement agencies, including St. Paul.

Last summer, Campion received high marks from a consulting firm hired by the Minneapolis Police Department to evaluate his testing procedures. "At no time ... did any representative of the City raise any concerns ... about the results of psychological testing or express a view that perhaps testing results reflected a bias," the suit said.

A spokesman for the mayor said the city had received the lawsuit but would not comment on pending litigation.

Campion is not the same Michael Campion who is the state Commissioner of Public Safety.

Rochelle Olson • 612-673-1747

Rochelle Olson • raolson@startribune.com