NEWS > 26 June 2006

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Palm Beach Post - FL, United S
26 June 2006

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PBC deputies caught cheating o

Twenty sheriff's deputies accused of cheating on tests have been reprimanded, stripped of their career deputy status and ordered to pay back any extra money earned with the higher paygrade.

About half the deputies charged with cheating admitted sharing answers to the on-line tests that earned them education credits to qualify as career deputies, a status that increases salary.

The 20 deputies were charged with ethics violations for improperly obtaining test answers. Investigators ruled that violations against six other deputies were unsubstantiated.

One of the accused, corrections deputy Chester Gibson, denied having a copy of the answers but admitted his wife took some of the on-line tests he submitted as his own.

"She didn't take all the tests for me, but she helped me do this because I'm computer illiterate," Gibson told internal affairs investigators.

Other deputies admitted the answers to the tests were passed around during group study sessions in jail control rooms and in back rooms at the main courthouse.

Sheriff's officials noticed something fishy about the exams, provided on-line by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, when records showed some applicants taking as many as 20 tests in one day. Also, none of the accused applicants had ordered study materials from FEMA to prepare for the exam. The actual test questions can be found in the study materials.

"The only way a student can pass these tests without this material is to obtain the answers improperly, and take the test without properly studying for the exam," the internal affairs report said.

Deputy Jimmy Maisonet told investigators that he was able to take 20 tests in one day in March of last year by using "study notes" that included answers to the tests. "Deputy Maisonet did not remember who was present in the study groups, stating, 'it was a whole bunch of people,'" according to the internal affairs report. Other deputies said they didn't consider it cheating because the tests are not supervised and are considered "open book" exams.

The sheriff's office has allowed use of the FEMA courses as educational credits for years, but sheriff's officials said applicants for career deputies were expected to order study materials and learn something from the course. The courses, available to anyone, cover such topics to debris operations and public assistance operations.

The widespread use of the FEMA on-line exams to claim education credits was first questioned a year ago by a Cpl. Robbie Bronson, a member of the career deputy committee. Bronson told investigators that the career deputy program is supposed to reward years of service, exceptional performance and continuing education.

A deputy had complained to Bronson that some deputies had discovered a "loophole" that allowed them to take 20 classes a day on-line and get certificates.

Use of the FEMA courses to obtain education credits is currently under review by the office, said Internal Affairs Capt. Robert Van Reeth. He said some on-line courses are proper because deputies working shifts cannot always find time to attend classes.

"We'll see how we can protect the testing," he said."

Extra pay earned by the deputies cited for cheating will be deducted from their paychecks over a period of time, he said.

The career deputy status can increase pay by about five percent. Of the deputies cited, 17 work in corrections and three are law enforcement deputies. Those who were already career deputies and seeking to move up to a higher level, were kept in their pre-test level. Career deputy status has four levels. Van Reeth said he has not heard that any of the deputies charged with ethics violations plan to appeal.

Besides Gibson and Maisonet, the other deputies cited with ethics violations were Belinda Murvin, Lorrie Wrice, Angel Alava, Francis Wheeler, Kasandra Smith, Bernard Hardemon, Donald Reilly, Sonya McIntosh, Conrad Stewart, Adrian Wallace, Sandra Price, Willie King, Reginald Price, Reginald Wright, Major Thornton, Richard Klaysmat, Brenda Gray and Caretha Cason.

The Police Benevolent Association, the union representing deputies, has no problem with the punishment handed to most of the deputies, said PBA President John Kazanjian.

"I guess it was proven that there were some answer sheets floating around," he said.

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Palm Beach Post - FL, United S26 June 2006

PBC deputies caught cheating o

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Palm Beach Post - FL, United S
26 June 2006