Anyone hear about Rio Hondo?

[its mcgavin son]

They have officially shut down their police academy pending a state investigation in regards to academic dishonesty (cheating on tests). Rumor has it cadets were given discs with verbatim questions and answers on them.

I just want to say ... you know... some four-letter words to those lowlife scumbags. I'm a veteran and was on route to attending their POST academy upon graduation from my 4-year university..

[socalblue]

WTF? Rio had a great reputation for decades! There must have been some major staffing changes the past couple of years for something like this to happen.

[Rhythm of Life]

I'm glad action is being taken. Hopefully the scope of this isn't too large.

[waitwha?]

no wonder my 832 class was canceled yesterday..........

[1911su16b870]

Here is what I have seen...

Rio Hondo police academy suspended, investigated for testing breach
By Tracy Garcia Staff Writer

Whittier Daily News

Posted: 10/05/2010 09:07:37 PM PDT

WHITTIER - Rio Hondo College's police academy program has been placed on suspension by the state following a breach in testing, college officials said Tuesday.

The state Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) took action Monday against the Rio Hondo Regional Training Center, otherwise known as the college's police academy.

POST is investigating how widespread the security breach was and how it can be prevented from happening again, officials said - and the affected tests will have to be recreated and validated at a substantial cost to the POST commission.

Rio Hondo College President Ted Martinez Jr. visited all affected classrooms Tuesday to break the news that all academy classes have been suspended until further notice.

That postponement will affect not only the current class of 122 cadets, but an incoming class that was scheduled to start later this month.

"We recognize the serious nature of the suspension, regret its impact on our students, and are working diligently with POST to resolve the issues," Martinez said.

"(The college) is committed to integrity in all facets of law enforcement training and preparation," he added.

College officials said all academy courses - including the "intensive" and "extended" formats, as well as the P.C. 832-Arrest, P.C. 832-Firearms and requalification courses - have been put on hold.

However, other classes in the college's Administration of Justice and Fire Academy were not affected, including in-service training, or specialized classes for existing law enforcement officers, officials said.

"Rio Hondo College apologizes to our regional law enforcement partners for this temporary interruption of police academy classes," Martinez said.

The police academy has been in existence since Rio Hondo College opened in the early 1960s. Its Administration of Justice program is the largest college-based program in California and trains police officers for some 40 jurisdictions, officials said.

.

[1911su16b870]

more info here: http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_16271290

[its mcgavin son]

POST is investigating how widespread the security breach was and how it can be prevented from happening again, officials said - and the affected tests will have to be recreated and validated at a substantial cost to the POST commission.

A former LAPD captain told me that the recreation of the tests are currently estimated at $1.7mil

[yzErnie]

Having been active with our firearms training at our academy for the Reserves and Module courses there have been rumors of this for years now. Our department has not accepted Rio Hondo graduates for as long as I can remember. It all makes sense now.

[BigDogatPlay]

Rio Hondo used to have a stellar reputation. I worked with guys who came out of there who were nails.

Very unfortunate.

[RedMongooSe]

try Golden West

[MIB]

Here is what I have seen...

WOW!

[skyboi]

hm...interesting i had a buddy go thru there his mindset is correct but dont know much about his training. i know alot of small agencies pick from there. it's cheaper for them to hire someone from there then putting someone thru LASD/OCSD/LAPD.

[Unit74]

I pointed this out to a buddy...


So you are a graduate of Rio Hondo and are a working cop. If can be shown you were given a copy of these questions and you did in fact pass the tests. Is your POST cert now invalidated and what do you do about it if you were POST? After all, it has not been proven to are able to pass the basic standards tests and thus, you have not actually passed any tests.

I can see all these folks having to "challenge" the test as laterals from other states do in order to keep their POST status. When it comes down to it, whether knowingly or not, they were given fraudulent academy graduation certs and will have to legally come into compliance. Otherwise, their employer can fire them even if they are beyond a probationary period. Their POST has/will be revoked.

And tack this on.... what if the city is trying to trim some fat already? They can drop these folks without allowing them to become re-certified with POST. They have no recourse and to add insult to injury, they can't lateral ANYWHERE at least until POST sorts out the mess!

In addition, if they have to get rehired and loose benefits they previously had, what can they do? Pay scale, retirement, education benies, intermediate/advanced pay.....Sounds to me like they are fugggged coming AND going on this one!

I feel bad for what is coming down the pipe with a Rio Honda graduate.

[fullrearview]

Wow...That sucks. For those who cheated......Have fun explaining this mess.....

In all seriousness....Why do people have to cheat???? The test are NOT hard!

[non sequitur]

A similar thing happened last year at the Yuba Community College District AOJ POST training facility. The investigation results were kept confidential but the rumor placed the blame on academy staff.

POST rolled-up all the Yuba College academy programs and canceled everything until further notice...

http://www.yccd.edu/aoj/academies.html