Ohio Troopers Cheated on DUI Exam

‘The Ohio State Highway Patrol does not tolerate inappropriate behavior.” Col. Richard Collins, patrol superintendent, said this in April before the patrol fired two troopers at the Sandusky post who had pulled a racist “prank.”

Collins should say it again — and act accordingly, now that 12 troopers, including nine from the Canton post, have been implicated in a cheating scandal. The patrol’s latest problem damages its credibility even more than the April incident did.

The Sandusky situation was bad enough: One trooper had dressed as Ku Klux Klansman while on duty, and the other had sent a photo of his costumed friend to another patrol post. It was inappropriate behavior on the job and a case of astoundingly bad judgment. Worse, it created justifiable suspicion about the racial mind-set of people with arrest powers.

The cheating scandal raises questions about the validity of court cases based on blood alcohol tests. Nine of the 12 troopers have admitted to cheating on the written test about operation of the breath-testing equipment, or to knowing about the cheating.

Unfortunately, the written test is the only measure of troopers’ competence. They don’t have to demonstrate that they can calibrate, operate and maintain the device. Inspector General Thomas P. Charles, who conducted the investigation, wants that situation to change. Of course it should. And he wants the written test to be monitored from start to finish. Of course it should be.

Meanwhile, the patrol will conduct its own investigation of the cheating. Barring any surprises, the 12 troopers should be promptly fired.

Source: http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=420994&Category=3&subCategoryID=