By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• Ten officers from the Mount Pleasant Police Department were removed from their positions after an internal investigation found they allegedly cheated on a state law enforcement certification exam.
• The inquiry began after the department received a tip about potential misconduct involving the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy exam.
• Two officers were initially fired, and subsequent investigation led to eight more separations from the department.
• The officers cooperated with the inquiry, and the matter is subject to appeal through the state academy.
MOUNT PLEASANT, SC — Ten officers with the Mount Pleasant Police Department were removed from their positions following an internal investigation into alleged cheating on the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy certification exam, officials said.
Police Chief Mark Arnold said the department opened the investigation after receiving a tip indicating potential misconduct related to the state certification test required for law enforcement officers in South Carolina.
The initial phase of the probe resulted in the firing of two officers. A subsequent review found eight additional officers had either provided answers to or received answers on the certification exam, and those officers were also separated from the department.
Arnold said the involved officers cooperated with the investigation. Officials did not release the names of the officers or details about the specific timeline of the alleged conduct.
The case is subject to appeal through the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, which oversees certification standards for law enforcement officers in the state.