Where are the Results?
There is a potential scandal out there of immense proportions if only someone in the so-called "main stream media" would do a little digging, ask a few pointed questions and maybe try to do a little research. In January of this year, an entrance exam was given for the Police Department. Currently, the Department is taking applications for a new test, but the results of the January test have STILL not been mailed to those who took the test?
Reasons? We've heard a few:
Reasons? We've heard a few:
- The testing company lost at least a box of tests or the test results. We've heard this one a couple of times. As the rumor appeared around the time of the most recent Sergeant's exam, some people started spreading the rumor that it was a box of Sergeants test results that had gone walking. That rumor fizzled very quickly, but who's to say there wasn't an element of truth to it?
- Fraud - certain persons testing from remote locations were not actually the people who had registered to take the test. We heard that some persons living out of state or serving overseas had hoodwinked the testing company by having stand-ins take the test for them.
- Bad test - computer glitches or human error contributed to numerous different versions of the test being administered.
True? Who knows. We aren't really in a position to find out. But we are in a position to know half a dozen people who took the test and still haven't gotten results and now they're stuck re-applying and re-testing because they can't really afford not to take another entrance exam should the results of this one never turn up.
What about the testing company? Did they still get paid? Are they still running tests? Why would anyone trust them at all with any sort of civil service type entrance exam and ... oh wait, the City That Works. Right. We forgot who we're dealing with. We've been told it costs something in the neighborhood of two to four MILLION dollars to develop and administer a promotion test. Figure there is some sort of standard civil service type entrance exam and we might be talking the neighborhood of $1 million dollars at some point.
Any watchdogs in the press listening?
What about the testing company? Did they still get paid? Are they still running tests? Why would anyone trust them at all with any sort of civil service type entrance exam and ... oh wait, the City That Works. Right. We forgot who we're dealing with. We've been told it costs something in the neighborhood of two to four MILLION dollars to develop and administer a promotion test. Figure there is some sort of standard civil service type entrance exam and we might be talking the neighborhood of $1 million dollars at some point.
Any watchdogs in the press listening?
posted by SCC at 12:03 AM
25 Comments:
Ever wonder why there is so much secrecy in the city's testing process, why applicants and test-takers are not notified immediately regarding their scores, why the results are not publicly posted, and why no one (apparently) has been able to successfully challenge these practices?
Don't feel bad......The FF test is screwed up too! Taking 32 year old guys from the 95 list still going on and now the pass/fail 'un-biased' tes is now held up pending approval of the reverends. What a joke.
Never ceases to amaze me how the media overlooks things like this.
Neither the press nor the public will ever care about the legitimacy of promotion tests or work assignments, all they care about is being able to badmouth the police at their leisure and have us arrive when they call 911. I once spoke with Pam Zekman (sp?)CBS/ Channel 2 for an hour and a half about the 1993 sgt test. She seemed very interested and very appalled and told me she would call back. (I'm still waiting, Pam) My guess is that either her boss or she herself did not care and also felt that the viewing public would not care. That's the moral boys and girls. The only people who care are the ones who count the most, our families (except for my wife). also, please don't give up. It took me 3 tests and 17 years in a beat car and wagon (and scab FTO)to make sgt. Just took my second LT test. If I don't make it, that's the way it goes but at least I can truthfully say I've never been an empty- holster suck-hole. Stay safe.
I'm 110 out on the old Sgt's list I guess I still have a chance. There is a massive amount of corruption and fraud in out city, county and state when it comes to hiring and promotions I wonder what the common link is
Only my two cents...
When it comes to public safety:
Firefighters, Paramedics, Police Officers -
The appointments, promotions should be baised solely on test score.
Why in the world would the public want to have less than the most qualified in a position that deals with public safety?
I know, Race norming( gone?), Political favors, etc.
Do you think when the good Mayor's wife had surgery, they decided to have the Doctor that was given his position at the hospital based on his race, clout, relationship, rather than his reputation, and ability to perform the surgery?
No offense to garbage men, I know a few and repesct them very much. The garbage men in my ward are A+.
But that is a spot that a political or meritorious appointment will not affect anyones health ( 99.9999% of the time).
Public safety involves quick, accurate desicion making.
Who do you want responding to your life threating situation - fire, heart attack, robbery, traffic crash, etc - the most qualified, or the most politically connected?Yeah, I know...
They all deserved the promotion/appointment. they just didn't do well on the test.
Regarding the Sgt. test.
Didn't the city charge the officers to take the test?
Doesn't that make the test the property of the individual officers?
Sounds like a valid case, however the battle with City Hall is expensive.
Doesn't merit promotions mean that someone was promoted based on their " merit "? How about 35th actually articulate what the merit circumstances were that deserved promoting the officer?
forget what you were taught in school about the unbiased free press. the mainstream media does what it is told by their corporate sponsers. there is no greater friend to corporations than mayor daley.
news that puts chicago in a bad light gets published by alternative sources and only reluctantly by the for profit media.
Because its race related! The media wont talk about the white candidates that were thrown away because the results were probably all one sided and the city cant have that.......ITS A JOKE
To 09:21:44. You hit the nail on the head!
Promotions should be soley off the test. If the city won't do that then streamline the merit part. Let us know what "merits" a promotion. Let us all have a fair shot at it.
If the the candidates for the SGTS exam, and this years appointment exams were all required to pay application fees, where did this money go? The city or Ernst and Young?
Do you think when the good Mayor's wife had surgery, they decided to have the Doctor that was given his position at the hospital based on his race, clout, relationship, rather than his reputation, and ability to perform the surgery?
that doesnt happen!! EVERYone is the same! No one is any different form everyone else!
Regarding the Sgt. test.
Didn't the city charge the officers to take the test?
Doesn't that make the test the property of the individual officers?
Sounds like a valid case, however the battle with City Hall is expensive.
We were not even allowed to take our copy of the scantron part of the test home!
I want my $20 back!
IS IT TRUE A CERTAIN NORTHSIDE SGT PATTI CASEY TOOK THE LT TEST AT HER HOME? BETTER LOOK INTO THAT ONE!
Actually the new Sgts test also has problems. Some of the tests from part 2 were lost temporarily then found a day later. Where they were and what was done with them during the missing time is not known.
Amazing. Fuck the press. You guys are the cops and you're looking for the press to save the day???!!! And then when the report on corrupt ass cops, you guys get pissed. You can't have it both ways. Either solve your own fucking cop problems or stop this love/hate relationship with the media., that's more hate than love.
I'm among these early testers. Actually, the exam was administered in February with three more during the course of the year. The reasoning for the delay has been much discussed and subject to rampant speculation. The prevailing theory is that the city is withholding the results until after the last exam is held. This way, those who failed are not tempted to reapply before the next round.
Other theories are that the city won't/can't pay Ernst & Young, lost tests, computer glitches, etc.. The truth probably lies somewhere in between.
I don't know PATTI CASEY but I know the woman just had a brain aneurysm, so why don't you cut the bullshit rumours. If you're that interested, zabasearch her, call her up, and ask her yourself.
Anonymous said...
Amazing. Fuck the press. You guys are the cops and you're looking for the press to save the day???!!! And then when the report on corrupt ass cops, you guys get pissed. You can't have it both ways. Either solve your own fucking cop problems or stop this love/hate relationship with the media., that's more hate than love.
9/25/2006 07:03:28 PM
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Oh there is no love! The media, like the feds pick and choose what they will coddle and run with. If the media actually reported teh news, it would talk about the homicides the shootings all day! Not the special intrest stories about illegals in churches and what dress is hot this winter. Fuck the media, bevause they are slanted and nothing but gossip!
IF YOU HAVE TO MENTION PATTY CASEY YOU BETTER NOT FORGET HER INSPERATION ; CPT CRAZY BLOND DILLION IN 017. THEY BOTH MUST HAVE FALLEN FROM THE DUM-DUM TREE !!
What do you mean "insperation"? What is that?
YIKES: Two questions have been removed from the test! Haven't we heard this before? Removing questions was the process used in the Washington administration to help the brothas get better marks.
A simple computer search identified the questions that they had the most difficulty answering correctly and those were simply removed from the scoring. Neat huh? It work before and it will work this time as well. THE CITY THAT WORKS.
Saw a fax today, but left it at work. Two questions thrown out of the Sergeants exam, #98 and #100-and-something. What the hell is that? Of course the fax doesn't say what those questions were, just that they were thrown out. I guess those persons who got copies of the test failed to mark their answers correctly on those two questions, dropping them in to the giant belly of the bell curve.
You want answers?
I want the truth!
You can't handle the truth!!!
Perhaps they should give part 2 over again. That is the only way it would be fair.
I'm Sorry, I forgot what Dept I work for.
Never mind.
While the test could be taken with pencil and paper, it could also be taken on a computer. Many who elected to take it electronically finished real quick. There was supposed to be 4 parts to the test. The computer was skipping one of the parts. FACT. I was there. Some of those people left and never found that out. Others were sent back into the rooms to take the other part. City hall has the results but has not turned them over to the department yet. There are four tests this year. The next will be in November. Take it with a pencil if you can.
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