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points for service within a different police department. It reached the point where some of <br />the candidates that possibly could be effected by these extra seniority points were getting <br />hostile. Out of concern that there may be a major conflict within the police department, Chief <br />Ruple noted he contacted the Clerk of Commissions Cornish, discussed the seniority point <br />issue and discovered that they were a mute point as by this time the results of the assessment <br />had been received. The Chief explained he informed the candidates of this finding to avoid <br />any retaliation on the seniority point issue. He apologized for putting the clerk in that <br />position, but'appreciated the information as it assisted in settling a dispute. On count three <br />(3) Mr. Cummings stated that there was not anything submitted which specified when the <br />assessment results have to be announced to the candidates. The Chief noted when the <br />assessments for Chief Captain, and Lieutenant were revealed they were revealed the Monday <br />following the assessment, as those tests were 100% assessment, however, the Sergeants test <br />was composed of a written test (70%) as well as an assessment test (30%). The clerks had to <br />convert the scoring to reflect the percentages and add the converted scores together with the <br />seniority and evaluation points to complete the scores. The reason why the clerks office did <br />not receive the results on March 16, 1998 is because the Chief Assessor had not prepared the <br />formal report. The clerk announced in the formal agreement with the Ohio Association of <br />Chiefs of Police it states "the final report shall be submitted to the official signing the client <br />agreement within the two 'weeks after conducting the assessment process." Chairman <br />Cummings agreed that the assessors were well within their time frames in providing the <br />results. On count four (4) Chief Ruple noted the lead as called on March 18, 1998 and <br />informed him that the results were available to be faxed over to the civil service secretary. <br />Chief Ruple informed Assistant, Clerk of Commissions Rote of the same and the results began <br />coming through the city hall fax machine. Present as witnesses of receiving this fax were: <br />Clerk of Commissions Cornish, Assistant Clerk of Commissions Rote, Police Chief Ruple, <br />and the Safety Directors Secretary Purper. There was a problem with the fax machine at city <br />hall and the first page was not legible then the machine jammed. Clerk of Commissions <br />Cornish presented the first page of the fax which was clearly not legible. Chief Ruple <br />continued since the fax was not coming through clear Assistant Clerk of Commissions Rote <br />contacted the lead assessor and requested that the fax be sent to the Police Station as there <br />was a problem with the fax machine at City Hall- Chief Ruple noted just as everyone was <br />headed out to the police station to receive that fax, a call came from the receptionist that the <br />fax was now coming through much clearer. The Chief continued, as the Clerk of <br />Commissions received the results at City Hall, he and Assistant Clerk of Commissions Rote <br />walked over to the police station to receive the fax being sent to the station. He noted an <br />announcement could not be made at that time as the assessment score had to be converted to <br />thirty percent (30%) and added to the written score (70%) and the extra credit points. <br />Unbeknownst to the clerks or Chief Ruple a second fax was coming through at the police <br />station and city hall. While awaiting a fax of his own, Patrolman Plocica received this faxed <br />information. As he was not familiar with the person it was addressed to (Assistant Clerk <br />Rote), he mentioned to Secretary Chesar it was from Grove City. Secretary Chesar never <br />touched the fax, but informed Patrolman Plocica to give it to Chief Ruple. Since Chief <br />Ruple, was away from the office the fax was given to Captain Wozniak and then ultimately <br />returned to Assistant Clerk of Commissions Rote in the commissions office. Chief Ruple <br />stated, it appears Mr. Hughes felt the second fax sent over to the police department was the <br />official fax and no one was present to receive it so a patrolman picked it up. Chairman <br />Cummings noted the commission's office received four copies of the same thing and they all <br />match up with the final report, therefore there is no way anyone could have changed the <br />scores. Commissioner Thomay questioned how the results were received prior to the <br />