Atlanta investigates allegations of cheating on fire department promotion test

By Rhonda Cook

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta's human resources office is conducting a “formal” investigation into allegations of cheating on Atlanta Fire and Rescue promotion tests, according to Commissioner Sherri Thompson Dickerson.

She said Thursday that no official complaint had been brought to her but the allegations had been made informally in “several conversations with a few … firefighters."

There were allegations that some firefighters were given the answers to questions before they took the promotion exam. Dickerson, however, did not detail the allegations.

“I asked a member of my staff to speak with officials in AFR regarding their concerns because we take any allegations of cheating very seriously,” Dickerson wrote in an e-mail to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Based on those discussions, the city has decided to approach this matter as a formal investigation. Thus, we are in the process of conducting that investigation and need to let the process run its course before we can comment further.”

"We are not conducting an investigation. "To my knowledge, no one has filed any complaints with the fire department," said spokesman Capt. J.L. Bundridge.

He said acting Chief Joel Baker has not seen evidence of  cheating on the lieutenants and captains  exam.

Bundridge said it is not uncommon for those who don't do well on promotion exams to make such accusations.

"People actually study and they do well on the exam. Surprise. Surprise," Bundridge said.

The president of the Atlanta Professional Firefighters Association, Capt. Jim Daws, declined to comment until the investigation is completed.