The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is seeking to fire one of its police captains, after, officials say, he e-mailed himself the department's sergeants' promotion exam.
The agency is also investigating why the captain?s superiors took no action once they learned of the June 2011 incident.
Word that a promotions test may have been compromised, and that superiors failed to discipline a person involved, follows a recommendation by former U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff that the department?s leadership should be restructured.
Chertoff?s consulting firm recommended in February that a new security director position be created to oversee police operations and the agency?s security-related capital spending. The 1,700-member department, headquartered in Jersey City, is headed by Superintendent Michael Fedorko, while a search is under way for a security director, a recommendation adopted by the board.
Port Authority Executive Director Patrick Foye said he has ordered Fedorko to initiate termination procedures against the captain.
"There will be zero tolerance for conduct of this nature ? a serious ethical breach and a clear violation of Port Authority Police Department rules ? which may have violated state and federal laws," Foye said in a statement.
"I took immediate action to ensure he was terminated, but this isn?t over. I am particularly alarmed by the failure of the Captain?s superiors who admittedly failed to take appropriate action upon learning of this offense," the statement said.
Port Authority Chairman David Samson stated: "We have made clear that we want this investigation to follow wherever the trail leads."
The Port Authority did not name the captain who is under investigation.Port Authority