N.J. Police Chiefs Call for Probe into Promotion Exam Cheating

The New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police is urging officials to hold off releasing the results of March's sergeant exam until cheating allegations are investigated.

Oct. 21, 2025

3 min read

What to know

The New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police urged the Civil Service Commission to delay releasing sergeant exam results amid cheating allegations from the March 1 test.
Both the chiefs association and the state Policeman's Benevolent Association called for a full, transparent investigation, citing a lack of communication from the commission.
While test results remain on hold, departments can fill vacancies using existing eligibility lists or temporary provisional appointments.

A New Jersey law enforcement association has called for the results of a police examination to be withheld pending a full investigation into cheating allegations from earlier this year.

“In light of concerning allegations of cheating on the Police Sergeant examination on March 1, the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police is urging the state’s Civil Service Commission to refrain from releasing the results of the test until a full and transparent investigation is undertaken,” NJSACOP President Andrew Caggiano said in a statement.

The police chiefs association reported the cheating allegations to the New Jersey Civil Service Commission, according to Caggiano’s statement, and called for a “thorough investigation, with swift results, to ensure this exam remains a credible method to assess law enforcement and the potential for promotion.”

The state Attorney General’s Office is aware of the cheating allegations, but would not confirm or deny the existence of an investigation, according to a spokesperson.

A representative from the civil service commission did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Gov. Phil Murphy’s office declined to comment on the alleged cheating incident.

In a statement posted online Monday, the New Jersey State Police Policeman’s Benevolent Association said communication with the NJCSC has lacked transparency.

“Immediately after being made aware of the allegations, the New Jersey State PBA contacted the New Jersey Civil Services Commission and informed them of the same,” NJPBA President Peter Andreyev wrote in a letter to local officials and union members.

“Since that time, there hasn’t been much transparency or communication regarding the allegations or how the CSC would address them.”

Andreyev’s letter noted that the NJCSC typically releases scores in mid-October, but that the NJPBA appeared confident that no scores were forthcoming at the moment.

The letter also provided guidance to local police officers and chiefs of police on how to fill vacant administrative positions while score results are delayed.

Caggiano said the NJSACOP is “in lockstep with the state Police Benevolent Association” in suggesting a full investigation to ensure fair results.

“I have demanded that the proper action is taken to guarantee that you all receive those fair results,” Andreyev wrote in his letter.

Andreyev said that officers who took the exam should continue checking the NJCSC’s Law Enforcement Status Report for any updates.

Meanwhile, police chiefs can fill vacancies from lists of eligible officers, according to Andreyev. And if those lists have expired, chiefs can appoint supervisors through provisional appointments that automatically expire once a new eligibility list is published.

A spokesperson for the Governor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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