Half of D.C. Fire Cadet Class Fails Out, Cheating Found

A report from Washington D.C. radio station WTOP shows that almost half of the current D.C. Fire and EMS recruit class will not graduate. Officials said more than a dozen students failed exams and there were allegations of cheating.

Cadet Class 24 started the fire academy in November 2021 with 32 students. The program is comprised of city residents between ages 18 and 21.

Fourteen students failed the EMT exam twice, the radio station reported, eliminating them from the class.

D.C. Fire and EMS spokeswoman Jennifer Donelan called the outcome “extremely disappointing.”

Donelan said additional instructors were added to the class to improve the student to instructor ratio. The class was also extended by several weeks to allow the recruits enough time to prepare for the exams.

Donelan said an investigation found that three students had cheated during the process.

“There were insufficient facts to determine if the testing process was violated by the other members of the class,” Donelan said.

The remaining students will graduate in September. 

Cadet Class 24 was the largest recruit class in the department's history