Penn Live reports that the 29 cadets, who were part of a class expected to graduate next month, have either been dismissed or have resigned from the academy so far.
Citing unnamed police sources, Penn Live reported that a “cheat sheet” had been discovered, and noted that at the academy, “some of the test materials haven’t changed between classes.”
Recruits have written tests and other exams, and if the materials weren’t switched up, that allows for a “possible vulnerability in the process,” the newspaper reported. Details of the exact nature of the allegations still seemed a bit unclear, however, with the Associated Press reporting that State Police Commissioner Tyree Blocker “gave only a few details about the probe into the academy’s 144th graduating class, saying the investigation is ongoing.”
Blocker, the AP reported, would not describe the manner of alleged cheating.
“We won’t tolerate anyone who lies, cheats or steals,” he said, according to Penn Live. “The public has, and rightfully so, an expectation that members of the State Police have the highest integrity and I am insistent on that.”
The allegations are still under investigation.
“We’re working very diligently at bringing some closure to the investigation,” Blocker told reporters. “However, I want to be clear. We will not leave any stone unturned when it comes to the integrity of the Pennsylvania State Police.”
This isn’t the first time police cadets have been caught up in a cheating scandal. In 2013, Washington State Patrol recruits were also accused of cheating at the academy. An investigation in the matter found that the recruits weren’t necessarily cheating when they shared study material, but determined that they had broken a regulation, according to a Seattle Times report on the preliminary findings.
The Pennsylvania State Police scandal comes at a time of increased scrutiny of policing tactics and, in some cases, the training that officers go through.
Eugene O’Donnell, a professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, told The Post that while the idea of cadets bending the rules is troubling, the issue is even more complex.
When academies deal with allegations like this, he said, it’s good to remember that the agencies they’re feeding can be imperfect as well. Law enforcement institutions grappling with cheating allegations, O’Donnell said, also need to take a closer look at their own standards, requirements and training methods and start asking if there are issues.
“I think there’s a fictional cop that everybody’s looking for that is skilled in every area of police work,” O’Donnell said, “and that fictional cop doesn’t exist.”
There are nearly 70 cadets remaining in the Pennsylvania State Police Academy class, and they are scheduled to graduate in March, according to the Associated Press.
The news service noted that the Pennsylvania State Police is one of the nation’s largest law enforcement agencies, with more than 6,000 uniformed and civilian personnel.
0 Response to "Cheating Scandal Pennsylvania State Police Academy"
Thanks for give comment.