Santa Ana to Scrap Leaked Police Test

The Santa Ana Police Department has scrapped the results of an exam taken by 107 officers seeking to become corporals after officials learned that some got an early look at the questions.

The city attorney’s office is investigating because the test was administered by Santa Ana’s personnel department. Officials said they are not sure how the questions leaked or who was responsible.

Mario Carona, a police department spokesman, said that when the city finishes its probe, the case will be turned over to the department’s internal affairs division. Officers found to have cheated on the exam could be fired, demoted or reprimanded.

Candidates were notified that the test results were being tossed out by an e-mail sent Aug. 8 by Mike Ernandes, a personnel office supervisor. He said some officers received test questions in the study materials they were sent.

The written test was given July 24 and included questions about police procedure. Those who passed would have been eligible to become a corporal, a rank between officer and sergeant.

The exam was the first conducted since 1998, said Sgt. Baltazar De La Riva, police spokesman. A new exam will now be scheduled.

Police and city officials would not comment on how they learned that the questions were leaked.

One veteran Santa Ana officer, speaking anonymously, said about 30 officers received questions in advance.

The officer, who didn’t take the test, said the controversy has created animosity on the part of exam takers who did not get questions beforehand.

“They didn’t do anything wrong and they were looking forward to the opportunity to be promoted,” the officer said.