LAS VEGAS (KSNV MyNews3.com) -- Because of a cheating scandal on a written test, the city of Las Vegas has decided not to certify a class of fire recruits.
City officials said this afternoon that they have decided not to certify the latest Las Vegas Fire & Rescue (LVFR) academy class.
City spokesman David Riggleman said the city will begin advertising quickly for a new class.
"We will try for a lateral class, trying to recruit some people who have similar training already so that we can do the next recruit class, Riggleman said. "That way we can considerably shorten the 18 weeks it normally takes for training."
The academy graduation scheduled for Feb. 14 was suspended following suspicions by the state Fire Marshal Division of cheating on an exam within the class, and an investigation was conducted.
The city will also establish a plan to cover the loss of the 14 graduates.
"The city is not going to compromise the quality of its service nor the character or integrity of our organization," said Chief Public Safety Officer Karen Coyne. "Integrity is a core value of our organization, and we took these allegations very seriously."
