The NYPD is investigating whether some of its own sergeants cheated on a promotions exam. One upset officer spoke with NY1's Dean Meminger.
Police sergeants are up in arms, saying some of their colleagues cheated when taking the promotions exam to move up to lieutenant.
Sergeant: I believe there were plenty of cheaters on that exam.
Meminger: And what do you feel about that?
Sergeant: I feel terrible. I feel cheated myself.
The cheating allegedly occurred on a make-up test last year. Sergeants say many who took the makeup knew the answers because an answer key had been posted online by someone who apparently had taken the exam earlier in the year.
One sergeant who failed the test spoke to NY1, asking to remain anonymous. The sergeant says some officers skipped the first exam, knowing the makeup would have the same questions.
"Many people, they know the game," the sergeant said. "If they call out sick or if they, what we call line of duty, they get injured on the job prior to the exam, that is their excuse for taking a make-up exam."
Twenty-four-hundred sergeants took the first exam given by DCAS, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, and 164 passed, about 6.8 percent. But of the 80 sergeants who took the makeup, 48 percent passed.
The Internal Affairs Bureau has begun investigating. The NYPD says it is aware of issues that have been raised concerning the 2015 lieutenant promotional make-up exam. The Department says it is reviewing those issues with DCAS.
The cheating is one of several alleged problems. Some sergeants have discussed suing the city, saying several exam questions were not relevant to being a lieutenant. They want a review board to look at the exam's fairness.
"Because I'll tell you, Dean, there were questions that had no answers, multiple answers or wasn't even given to me to study for," the sergeant said.
A high-ranking police official says that this an extremely unusual situation and that changes must be made, including moving the test day from Saturdays, when some officers say they have military duty or observe the Sabbath. Officials believe such a change would reduce the numbers taking the makeup.