30 Georgia State Patrol troopers fired, including three from Grovetown
ATLANTA, GA (WFXG) - Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety (GDPS) Colonel Mark W. McDonough announced Wednesday, Jan. 29, that 30 Georgia State Patrol troopers, including three posted in Grovetown, were fired resulting from an investigation by the Office of Professional Standards (OPS) for the GDPS.
The investigation revealed that all 30 members, each from the 106th Georgia State Patrol Trooper School, cheated on an online test for the Speed Detection Operator component of the trooper school curriculum. The troopers' dismissals came this morning after those allegations were found to be true.
The timeline in this investigation is as follows:
- On October 8, 2019, an allegation was made that everyone in the school had cheated during the online examination for the Speed Detection Operator course.
- An investigation was opened on October 15.
- Office of Professional Standards investigators conducted interviews with two members of the 106th Trooper School who corroborated the allegation initially made.
- Between October 25, and November 13, investigators interviewed the remaining troopers who had graduated from the 106th Trooper School regarding the allegation.
- The investigation concluded earlier this month leading to the dismissals this morning.
According to the GDPS, the findings from the investigation are as follows:
- Allegation #1: Everyone in the 106th Trooper School cheated on the Speed Detection Operator Exam. This allegation was sustained as the remaining members and each former cadet disclosed they had cheated and described the method or methods utilized to cheat.
- Allegation #2: A cadet at the time had helped other cadets with their online exams. This allegation was also sustained.
- Allegation #3: Three cadets at the time had assisted another cadet with passing his exam. This allegation was sustained.
- Allegation #4: A training instructor had printed a written makeup exam and permitted two cadets who had failed the exam to return to their dorm rooms with the makeup exam and turn it in the next date. This allegation was also sustained.
Investigators with the OPS found the cadets: used written or typed notes, had direct help from another cadet (test answers), used test questions and answers posted by a cadet to an online application, searched the internet for test questions and answers, and several class members used two Snapchat groups to during the exam.
A total of 33 troopers graduated from the 106th Trooper School on Aug. 16, 2019. Since graduation, one trooper resigned, one was previously dismissed, and another is on military leave, which left 30 members who were let go today.
Here is a full list of the troopers, their home counties and their post assignments:
TROOPER | HOME COUNTY | POST ASSIGNMENT |
Erguens Accilien | Columbia | Post 21 - Sylvania |
David Allan | Hall | Post 6 - Gainesville |
Jalin Anderson | Richmond | Post 33 - Milledgeville |
Erik Austell | Bibb | Post 15 - Perry |
Evan Bauza | Chatham | Post 11 - Hinesville |
Logan Beck | Camden | Post 23 - Brunswick |
Christopher Cates | Rabun | Post 27 – Blue Ridge |
Seferino Chavez | Clayton | Post 47 – Forest Park |
Demon Clark | Greene | Post 17 - Washington |
Christopher Cordell | Catoosa | Post 5 - Dalton |
Clint Donaldson | Coweta | Post 49 – Motor Unit |
Eric Guerrero | Coffee | Post 36 - Douglas |
Jonathan Hayes | Paulding | Post 29 - Paulding |
Nicholas Hawkins | Walton | Post 46 - Monroe |
Bradley Hunt | Muscogee | Post 2 - LaGrange |
Clarence Johnson | Richmond | Post 25 - Grovetown |
Evan Joyner | Muscogee | Post 2 - LaGrange |
Richard Justice | Columbia | Post 25 - Grovetown |
Malcolm Martinez | Cobb | Post 47 – Forest Park |
Rebecca Moran | Gwinnett | Post 51 - Gwinnett |
Paul Osuegbu | Barrow | Post 6 - Gainesville |
Jose Perez | Colquitt | Post 13 - Tifton |
Patrick Pollett | Columbia | Post 25 - Grovetown |
Troy Pudder | Houston | Post 30 - Cordele |
Caleb Pyle | Coweta | Post 24 – Newnan |
Daysi Ramirez | Houston | Post 15 - Perry |
Gabriel Rampy | Carroll | Post 4 – Villa Rica |
Adam Salter | Pike | Post 26 - Thomaston |
Jerry Slade | Crisp | Post 30 - Cordele |
Kyle Thompson | Berrien | Post 36 - Douglas |
James Vaughan | Sumter | Post 10 - Americus |
Brian Whelehan | Bryan | Post 23 - Brunswick |
Kelley Whitaker | Miller | Post 14 - Colquitt |
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