12 in Ohio Patrol face firing in probe

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- The State Highway Patrol on Tuesday recommended firing 12 officers accused of cheating on a required test for certification to run breath testing equipment used to determine if a person is intoxicated during drunken driving arrests.

An Ohio Inspector General report in July found that a trooper made copies of an exam he took in 2007 and shared answers with other troopers when he retook the test in April.

The report also found that there was evidence of related cheating by troopers on tests given on four other dates in 2007 and 2008.

Most of the allegations concern troopers or sergeants assigned to the Canton post.

In addition to the 12 recommended for termination, two sergeants are being demoted and three others in the patrol have been reprimanded, said Highway Patrol spokesman Lt. Tony Bradshaw.

The cases go before a hearing officer Friday at the patrol's district headquarters in Massillon.

Bradshaw said he could not disclose names of those disciplined pending the hearing.

Herschel Sigall, a lawyer for the Ohio State Troopers Association, said in a written statement that the union will conduct its own investigation and plans to challenge at least some of the allegations based on lack of evidence of cheating.

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On the Net:

http://www.watchdog.ohio.gov/investigations/2008097.pdf