ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — One Orange County firefighter has been fired, and four others have either resigned or been disciplined, in a cheating scandal.
9 Investigates first exposed the allegations in October.
Investigative reporter Daralene Jones was the only one to get a copy of the report, detailing how they almost got away with cheating on a test to become certified in pediatric advanced life support.
Peter Fontanez, Glenn Kiture, Robert Palmer, Herminio Quinto and Jeremy Skrocki were the subjects of the investigation.
“I didn't pertain myself as doing any criminal activity whatsoever. I was acting like a student studying for a test that he was a little worked up on,” said Kiture in an audio interview that was used as evidence in the investigation
Kiture was caught with a copy of the exam, in class, just before it was administered at Valencia Community College in June.
He told investigators he thought it was practice material.
“It says 2011 on the material, so in my mind, I was considering this as old study material,” said Kiture.
According to the investigative report, the instructor found a copy of the test with the correct answers highlighted.
Phone logs, investigators said, show how the group allegedly had a four-hour conference call to devise a cover-up story, claiming they found the material online.
“I was doing everything in my effort to keep my, to get a good standing, you know, keep an A in class,” said Kiture.
What’s still unclear is where the group allegedly obtained a copy of the test.
The class was paid for with taxpayer money and passing it meant the firefighters were eligible for a promotion.
The president of the Orange County Fire Union said it doesn't condone the behavior.
A spokesperson for the Orlando Fire Department said the agency is still investigating any role their firefighters may have played.
WFTV
