HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-28-09 Police Civil Service Commission Meeting minutes
THE CITY OF LA PORTE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION MET THE 28TH DAY
OF OCTOBER, 2009, 11 :00 A.M. AT POLICE DEPARTMENT ADMIN
CONFERENCE ROOM
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at approximately 11 :05
2. MEMBERS FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION AND THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT IN ATTENDANCE
Keith Trainer, Civil Service Commission
Les Bird, Civil Service Commission
Mike Garcia, Civil Service Commission
Ken Adcox, Chief of Police
Megan Drummond, Human Resources Specialist
Doug Ditrich, Patrol Sergeant - LPPOA
Matt Daeumer, Patrol Sergeant - LPPOA
Audience:
Officer Sherman Moore; Officer Ditrich, Officer Cook
3 . APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM JUNE 10, 2009
4. PROMOTIONAL EXAM: REVIEW OF APPEALED QUESTIONS BY
SERGEANT
-Prior to the start of the examinations of each appeal Keith Trainer read allowed
credentials provided by Justex oftheir term in providing the service of the
creators of the exam designed specifically for the LPPD.
-Each of the 11 questions as followed was read allowed by Chief Adcox for all in
attendance to hear. Following the question Officer Daumer read allowed his
argument for appealing the question. Lastly, Keith Trainer read allowed the
material provided by JUSTEX SYSTEMS INC. supporting their test answers.
-Sgt. Daumer provided research by a former grad student of one of the test
creators and indicates that he specifically creates tests designed to challenge the
test taker to a degree in which the test taker is at a disadvantage.
-Keith Trainer acknowledges his findings but expresses that he has a hard time
believing that Police Departments all over Texas use Justex as their testing
resource and have had problems with the test. Moving forward into the test.
-Question 8 was reviewed and was motioned to reject the appeal based on the
supporting material provided by Justex.
-Question 12 was reviewed and Sgt Daumer indicated that the question did not
reflect common practices. Sgt Ditrich added that as a test taker he studied for the
exam based on the source material. The commission motions to reject the appeal
based on source material.
-Question 22 was reviewed and the commission motions to reject the appeal based
on the supporting material provided by Justex and by the source material.
-Question 43 was reviewed and the commission motions to reject the appeal based
on the supporting material provided by Justex and by the source material.
-Question 56 was reviewed and a discussion among the commission expresses
that given a common practice experience Sgt Daumer would in fact know the
differences of reckless behavior based on the situation, however, based on the
scenario in this question it states that the driver was not reckless. This question is
not up for interpretation. The commission motions to reject the appeal based on
the supporting material provided by Justex and by the source material.
-Question 61 was reviewed and Sgt Daumer requests to have his test score
reviewed because his appeal was a defense for what was chosen to be the correct
answer. The commission motioned that "D" is in fact the correct answer, and Sgt
Daumer agrees.
-Question 64 was reviewed and the commission motions to reject the appeal based
on the supporting material provided by Justex and by the source material.
-Question 70 was reviewed and discussed among all present. Chief Adcox
interjects that the use of the terminology lies the confusion in this question. In
common practice the term "prosecuted" does apply to a minor who has stolen a
vehicle, however, based on the source material a minor may not be prosecuted.
The commission acknowledges that the term "prosecuted" caused confusion for
this question but cannot deny the source material as the study material for the
exam. Therefore, the commission motions to reject the appeal based on the
supporting material provided by Justex and by the source material.
-Question 75 was reviewed and the commission motions to reject the appeal based
on the supporting material provided by Justex and by the source material.
-Question 92 was reviewed and Sgt Daumer argues that Justex is making
assumptions based on this test question which leaves it open for interpretation.
The commission agrees that the question provides much gray area and that one
definitive answer cannot be reached. The commission motions that both answers
A and C are correct. Sgt Ditrich then requests that ifthere is not one correct
answer then all should be correct or that the test question should be stricken from
the test. The commission moves on to the last question.
-Question 95 was reviewed and the commission motions to reject the appeal based
on the supporting material provided by Justex and by the source material.
-Mr. Trainer closes the meeting by letting all interested parties know that the
commission takes this process seriously and that they agree that this is the best
practice for an appeal process. He appreciated the diplomacy of the meeting and
hopes that all parties feel as though they were given ample opportunity to express
their thoughts associated with each question presented.
5. NEXT MEETING
Not established
6. ADJOURNMENT
Meeting was adjourned at 12:40
APPROVED ON THIS THE
DAY OF
,2009.