An Update on “cheating” cadets

Here’s one that I thought was lost to the ravages of time and COVID. It took a wonderful reader to catch me up to speed. Remember that entire trooper class that was fired, stripped of POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training) certification as liars, and pretty much had their careers ruined by an instructor or two with big-head syndrome who decided that all the trainees had cheated on an exam?

Allow me a short refresh from my prior column: “Here’s the gist of the story. Thirty-three recruits were in GSP training. At some point, they had to take a speed device certification test, the only test they would take outside of the classroom. The class, as you can imagine, became pretty tight knit. You know, ‘All for one and one for all.’ That camaraderie is promoted in law enforcement for obvious reasons. The first two recruits took the test together after watching the online study course in one night. They then took the test and failed. It was supposed to be a one-time chance, so the two troopers appeared to be goners. The instructor used the example of the earlier two troopers to prepare the class for the test to scare the others into taking the test seriously. News accounts say that the test isn’t rocket science, but troopers do need to pay attention.

“The instructor then says, ‘Y’all have your computer in your rooms, and y’all have each other…use your resources…don’t let anyone else fail.’ No cadet asked what that meant. Doubt I would have either. Sounds like an open book, open invitation to work with the rest of the class. So that is what happened. The first two that failed were given a second bite at the apple with a written test, and the rest of the class took the test using each other for assistance as needed, some more than others.”

Advance forward a bit, GSP gets word of massive cheating by the cadets and after an appropriate investigation in which a pitcher of coffee and at least one box of donuts were consumed, they fired, decertified, and banished forever the lying, cheating, conniving cadets. Hey, it’s only two million dollars in training costs; let ’em go! CNN reported: “The cadets were accused of using written or typed notes, receiving assistance from other cadets, using internet search engines for answers, and using a group chat and two SnapChat groups to communicate with other cadets.” So, the cadets admitted to working together. Egads! What does this mean in the real world? If “y’all have your computer in your rooms, and y’all have each other…use your resources…don’t let anyone else fail” doesn’t mean collaborate, what does it mean? But pigheaded, high-falutin’, overpaid, holier-than-thou administrators ignored common sense and upheld the firings. 

Turns out, the complaints of many (maybe yours truly included) spurred some more investigation. Heads rolled, including Governor Kemp essentially firing the GSP Commander. Then the POST Council, which I must say has a good reputation amongst district attorneys for solid investigations, generated over 8,000 pages of documents to support the position that the cadets didn’t lie. They said, “intentionally lie,” but if it’s not intentional, it’s not a lie. Except for one cadet and two instructors, everyone else has been exonerated.

Just this week the State coughed up $850,000 for settlement cash and offered employment with several months’ credit for promotional considerations for the 26 wronged officers, as a handful of the officers involved had already been rehired by the GSP. I want to thank Governor Kemp for making that happen. Hopefully, new blood will change the arrogant headquarters’ culture that allowed this to happen. This embarrassed the governor and Georgia. God needs His police department back. 

Kelly Burke, retired attorney, former district attorney and magistrate judge, writes about the law, rock ’n’ roll, and politics or anything that strikes him. These articles are not designed to give legal advice but are designed to inform the public about how the law affects their daily lives. Contact Kelly at dakellyburke@gmail.com to comment on this article or suggest articles that you’d like to see, and visit his website at www.kellyrburke.com to view prior columns and contact Kelly. 

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