After a thorough internal investigation associated with the DeKalb County Fire Rescue investigation of recruits allegedly cheating on the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) test, Rockdale County Fire Rescue (RCFR) has determined there was no wrongdoing with its personnel who had contact with the study guide in question.

RCFR officials discovered there were nine firefighters or recruits who had contact with the study guide – two in 2014, two in 2015, and five in 2016. The investigation also determined who were the first individuals to have contact with the guide in 2014 and the circumstances surrounding how they acquired it.

“As soon as this story made the news, I had Rockdale firefighters stepping forward to make sure our administration was aware they had this study guide in their possession,” Fire Chief Dan Morgan said. “Our firefighters proactively assisted in our investigation. I’m extremely proud of their response and honor in wanting to protect the integrity of the Emergency Medical Technician testing process.”

When news about DeKalb’s recruit class came to light in late January, two RCFR individuals immediately came forward and informed their chain-of-command they might be in possession of a copy of this same guide.

By their statements it was confirmed they were the firefighters participating in a charity event in DeKalb in 2014 when EMT training and studying came up in conversation. They received a copy of the guide by email that March. At that time, the two individuals acted in good faith believing the guide was just as it appeared and nothing more.

These two firefighters forwarded, either by email or hardcopy, the guide to others in RCFR. Officials have determined through the chain of transfer between the nine firefighters involved that in every instance, each of them thought the guide was a valid resource.

Subsequent to the investigation, each of the firefighters involved have deleted or destroyed all copies of the guide and RCFR has informed all EMT students of the existence of this guide as being from outside Rockdale.

Based on the statements from the RCFR firefighters and the facts of how the guide was obtained and passed along, no disciplinary actions have been deemed warranted for the possession of this document.