A Waterbury HR probe says recruits used phones, split screens and Google during an unsupervised final test

By Bruno Matarazzo Jr.
New Haven Register

WATERBURY, Conn. — The city released new details about seven Waterbury fire cadets who resigned in August after they were found cheating on a required emergency medical technician exam in August, using phones, split screens and online searches to look up answers during a test that briefly was left unsupervised twice, according to a report.

The findings, outlined in a 16-page report by the city’s Human Resources Department, described what officials called “academic dishonesty” that compromised the integrity of the Waterbury Fire Department and reflected “disgraceful conduct.”

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The cheating took place Aug. 15 during the final EMT exam administered by Seymour Ambulance, which trains recruits under contract with the city, according to the report.

The report identified a pattern of misconduct among multiple members of the 13-person class, who were just days from graduating from the five-week, 160-hour EMT course.

The cheating first was discovered when the exam proctor noticed one recruit had opened a second browser window to Google the answer to a question about hazardous material, the report said.

“I guess I should X out of that, huh?” the recruit said to the proctor, referencing the X button to close the second browser window. He later admitted to having used Google to answer roughly 85 of the 120 questions on the exam, the report said.

Surveillance video later provided by Seymour Ambulance revealed that the proctor left the classroom twice for several minutes during the test. During that time, several recruits were seen talking, turning to look at each other’s computer screens and using their phones, according to the report.

Investigators wrote in the report that the video showed several recruits behaving “suspiciously as if they were cheating; looking constantly towards the proctor, talking with other recruits, looking at other recruits’ computer screens, manipulating cellular phones, and repeatedly typing on their device.”

Following a review of the video, the city expanded its investigation to all 13 recruits. Each was interviewed and required to fill out written questions. The report concluded that seven recruits engaged in academic dishonesty, two others did not cheat but failed to report it, and four were cleared of wrongdoing.

One recruit took photos of exam questions and later exchanged text messages with another recruit about what to say if confronted. One student admitted that he “definitely cheated” on the exam and described sharing information. Others denied cheating despite video evidence showing them using cellphones, talking to nearby recruits and typing on their devices when the proctor was not in the room.

Another recruit said he used his phone as a timer, though investigators wrote that his actions were “inconsistent with checking the time.”

Four recruits were cleared entirely. Investigators said there was “no physical evidence or witness statements” that those members had cheated or concealed information, according to the report.

Fire Chief Javier Lopez, who took over the department in May, said the recruits were placed on leave during the investigation and resigned before discipline could be finalized.

“It’s very disappointing,” Lopez said. “At the Waterbury Fire Department, we look for individuals who possess strong moral values, and obviously those individuals fell short of our expectations.”

The report also faulted the proctor for failing to maintain control of the room. Investigators noted in the report that the proctor was seated with his back to the recruits for the majority of the test and left the room twice, once for more than nine minutes.

The test is required before candidates can take the national EMT certification exam. Under city policy, new firefighters must obtain EMT certification as part of their training. The requirement, which began with the 2022 recruit classes, eventually will apply to the entire department through attrition.

The report concluded that the cheating amounted to “disgraceful conduct that reflects unfavorably on the city as an employer.”

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