created: 8/31/2007 2:20:53 PM updated: 9/1/2007 1:42:16 AM

By Mike Owens
I-Team Reporter

(KSDK)- About 1,300 men and women who took a test to join the St. Louis Fire Department are disappointed after being told that the test results are being thrown out because so many applicants failed.

The test is a standardized form given all over the country, according to those who have taken it.

Corey Cooper, who is currently a paramedic with the fire department, took the test and said he worked hard to pass it. He thinks it's unfair to eliminate the tests and wants to know why.

The tests were administered by the city personnel department. It also ordered the tests thrown out.

Director Richard Frank was on vacation and unavailable for comment.

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, who has limited control over the department, said he accepts Frank's decision.

"I would tend to support him on that, but I'm going to have to talk to him personally to find out the details on it. He's someone I have a lot of confidence in," Slay said.

St. Louis Fire chief Sherman George did not want to talk on camera about the tests, but a spokesperson said all inquiries should go to the personnel department.

Chris Molitor, the head of the International Association of Firefighters Local 73, is angry that the test results have been thrown out.

He said somebody had to have passed the test, and those are the people who should be allowed to join the fire department.

He refused to speculate why the scores were thrown out.

This is the second fire department test to cause controversy this summer. Some critics said 2004 promotion test was unfair and tainted with cheating.

Individuals who took the most recent test were not told whether they had passed or failed the tests.

KSDK