Pennsylvania State Police Academy

Pennsylvania State Police cadets at a fitness session for the media at the Pennsylvania State Police Academy in Hershey in 2014.

(CHRISTINE BAKER/File photo)

An investigation of possible cheating by cadets at Hershey's State Police Academy has caused a furor across the agency and the state.

Sources within the state police said the internal review was prompted by the discovery of a cheat sheet used in one of the exams administered to a class of cadets expected to graduate in March. A spokeswoman said the agency does not confirm or comment on active internal investigations.

"The general attitude of everyone out there is rage," said a source within the agency, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "One thing I preach to young troopers is don't lie, period. Police officers don't get rich from this job. The one thing you bring to this profession, and should leave with, is your integrity."

State Police Academy in Hershey.

It remains unclear how many cadets may be implicated in the inquiry, but another source said the scope of the incident was "unprecedented" and that it required "immediate, swift action to nip this in the bud." ABC27 reported Tuesday that "dozens of cadets" may be involved.

"We'll work out the best way to find out if cheating actually went on, and if it went on, people will pay the price," said Gov. Tom Wolf, when asked about the incident during an unrelated press conference on Wednesday.

Cadets undergo about six months of training at Hershey, including courses in police procedure, CPR, driving techniques and the use of weapons. They must also complete a physical program with a requirement that they complete an 8.5-minute mile by the end of training.

They receive a $1,200 biweekly salary during their time at the academy. After graduation, the cadets begin an 18-month probationary period at their assigned troop, where they must remain for their first three years with the agency.

State Police spokeswoman Maria Finn said the most recent estimate for the cost to train a cadet was $100,000, excluding the cost to maintain the facilities. It was unclear Wednesday if cadets would be required to compensate the agency in the event of their expulsion.

A source within the agency said the secrecy over the alleged cheating incident is due to the sensitivity of the investigation. Several cadets have already quit the academy, the source said, and any of the participants in the cheating who remain will probably be fired.

"One thing (the) PSP does not tolerate are liars and cheaters," the source said.

According to the state police, the 144th class had 88 active cadets, as of Tuesday, who are expected to graduate Mar. 18. That class began with 116 cadets, according to a state police website.

For comparison, the 143rd class began with 120 cadets and saw 96 graduate. The next cadet class, which is scheduled to graduate June 17, currently has 64 cadets.

The starting salary for a state trooper is currently $57,251. As of July 1, that amount will increase to $58,962.

News of the alleged cheating incident spread quickly through the law enforcement community. Retired troopers and other sources familiar with the academy's operations said they couldn't recall a similar incident in recent memory.

"If it's true, it's disgusting and something has got to be done about it, however far, wide or deep it goes," said Daniel Fiscus, a retired trooper who went to the academy in 1962.

Back then, Fiscus said, the cadets made less than $100 every two weeks -- about $785 when adjusted for inflation -- and trained six days a week.

"There were lots of other jobs available that paid more, but I wanted to be a Pennsylvania state policeman," he said. "That's what I wanted to do."

Fiscus, 77, of Brookville in Jefferson County, said troopers are, and should be, held to a high standard.

"I don't care how much money they have in investment and training," he said. "What good are they if they're not trustworthy? They should be let go as a good example for anybody in the future."

Bruce Gaston, 74, of Denver in Lancaster County, described being in the State Police as working "in a fish bowl." Cheating simply wasn't an option when he attended the academy in 1971, he said.

"The thought never came into your mind to cheat because what you're going to be once you graduate," he said. "You're not supposed to lie, cheat or steal."

This latest travail came as a shock, Gaston said.

"Us retirees were sort of embarrassed by it," he said. "Like, whoa, what's going on?"

Staff reporters Jan Murphy and Charles Thompson contributed to this report.