The American State of Massachusetts says its testing process for Public Service promotions has been compromised by an alleged leak of examination papers to prospective applicants.
The State Attorney General’s Office is suing the Beagle Exam Services company alleging its so-called practice exams papers “bear a troublingly close resemblance” to the real tests, which are supposed to be sealed to the public.
Attorney General, Maura Healey (pictured) has filed suit on behalf of the Civil Service Commission and its Human Resources Division, both of which have been investigating Beagle over whether it had somehow gained access to the closely-guarded tests.
Leman Padelford, a former Taunton, Massachusetts Fire Chief who runs Beagle, has not responded to requests for comment.
The Civil Service Commission said it had initially begun an investigation into Beagle in 2019 after allegations a Fire Officer seeking promotion had purchased a copy of the 2017 test from the company.
In a statement, the Attorney General’s Office said the Commission “has obtained information indicating that the ‘practice’ exams sold by the defendant to prospective test-takers bear a troublingly close resemblance to the actual exams that had been previously administered”.
“This is despite the fact that these actual, past exams are maintained in strict confidence and are not available to the public,” the Office said.
It said the Commission had attempted to subpoena the testing materials, but Beagle simply ignored it.
The suit, filed in Suffolk Superior Court, is seeking for a judge to require the company to hand over the subpoenaed material.
Boston, 24 August, 2021
