SUSAN WATTS/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

An internet message board shows blatant discussion of questions asked on the NYPD lieutenants' exam.

Rule benders may be climbing the ranks of New Yorks Finest as mounting evidence suggests that cops have cheated on multiple NYPD lieutenants exams, a Daily News investigation has found.

An internet message board reveals blatant discussion of specific questions among sergeants who took the 2011 test giving makeup test takers an obvious, unfair advantage. The board is now at the center of a lawsuit alleging widespread cheating on last years lieutenants exam.

In 2011, one person wrote on the site: Who sent the traffic cop to the hospital . . . ur smart.

Q(uestion) 17 I think was kids Discon (disorderly conduct) throwin bottles. so who do u send, wrote another.

EXCLUSIVE: PROMOTIONS FROZEN FOR ABOUT 200 NYPD SERGEANTS AMID PROBE INTO ALLEGED CHEATING

The posts occurred before sergeants unable to attend the initial exam on Oct. 30 mainly due to religious reasons or military service attended a makeup exam on Nov. 15.

Other sergeants posted their full list of 100 answers and cross-referenced them with at least 12 of their fellow sergeants.

People are taking this exam THIS WEEKEND. Stop talkin bout questions unless you want to drop a few spots, wrote another on the Rising Stars Promotions site, which is a school for officers taking promotion tests.

The makeup test takers indeed fared better.

Records obtained by The News show that in 2011 the last time the exam was administered 29% passed the initial test, and a whopping 65% passed the makeup exam.

EXCLUSIVE: NINE SERGEANTS SUE OVER NYPD LIEUTENANTS' EXAM CHEAT SHEET

The passing rates on the 2015 exam, which triggered a lawsuit and freeze on lieutenants promotions, were 6.8% for the initial exam and 48% for the makeup.

More than 2,200 sergeants took the 2011 exam, and more than 2,400 took the 2015 test.

PICASA

Several sergeants had their promotions to lieutenant frozen as police brass investigated allegations of widespread cheating on the test.

The new revelations hinting at a crooked culture among some test-taking cops comes as the NYPD and City Hall cope with an FBI probe of high-ranking police officials suspected of improperly giving out favors in exchange for gifts.

The federal investigation has reportedly broadened to include Mayor de Blasios fund-raising activities.

A police source said the clear implication was that some cheaters on the 2011 exam had gone on to be promoted from lieutenant to captain.

The numbers you have show that the cheating was more widespread, and that means there are other captains who shouldnt have been promoted, the source said.

A police spokesman did not specify if the NYPDs inquiry into the cheating, led by Internal Affairs, included an examination of the 2011 test.

The NYPD has been conducting an internal review into issues relating to the 2015 lieutenants promotional examination, the spokesman said.

Cathy Hanson, a spokeswoman for the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, which is responsible for administering the tests, also had few details.

The department, along with the NYPD, is working on procedures to improve the administration of makeup examinations going forward. As this issue is currently under review, it is not appropriate to comment further at this time, Hanson said.

Ed Mullins, head of the Sergeants Benevolent Association, said the only solution would be for every sergeant who passed the 2015 exam to be promoted regardless of whether the test was tainted by the appearance of cheating.

How are we going to sit here and accuse people of cheating unless you can say beyond a doubt they cheated? he said.

Unless you can prove it, I think you have no choice other than to promote . . . Unfortunately, the people of New York City may not be getting the best and brightest. If thats the truth, thats terrible.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/message-board-shows-cops-cheating-nypd-lieutenants-exam-article-1.2595612