Probe Leak Of Copies of BTO Exam Booklet

By REUVEN BLAU

The city's testing agency is investigating how job applicants obtained copies of last month's Bridge and Tunnel Officer exam during the answer key protest period.

JOSEPH MAURO: 'Shame' if they void test.

"We are reviewing this matter and have notified the Inspector General of our agency," said Mark Daly, the spokesman for the Department of Citywide Administrative Services. "At this juncture, we have no evidence that the integrity of the exam was compromised."

Got Copies Before Test?

Some test-takers may have had copies of the May 19 multiple-choice test in advance, which could force DCAS to toss the results of the exam and administer another test. That scenario would be costly, as 7,848 candidates took the exam held at five city high schools.

"Hopefully it's not true and they won't have to hold a new test," said Joseph Mauro, president of the Bridge and Tunnel Officers Benevolent Association. "It would be a shame for all these good people who had to take a test and then had the rug pulled out from under them."

An anonymous caller forwarded a copy of the exam to The Chief-Leader, alleging that it was available for a fee on the Internet before the test was held. "I paid and I studied the book from front to back," the caller said. "I don't care if I scored 100. It's just not fair for the guy who scored 30."

The story was first published in the Daily News.

DCAS requires test-takers to return the exam booklets upon completing the test. But there have been some recent problems with that system, as several Firefighter candidates were able to obtain large parts of the new written exam for that title held in January. A group of those candidates have used those copies of the questions to protest the newly designed test.

DCAS uses employees in the current title and sometimes their supervisors to help craft new exam questions. The union often recommends which workers should help write the test. "There were Bridge and Tunnel Officers who participated with the test, but nobody from the executive board," Mr. Mauro said.

MTA Bridges and Tunnels currently employs approximately 800 BTOs. The officers collect tolls and serve as law-enforcement agents for specific agency locations. It hires roughly 80 to 90 officers a year.