The California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) has canceled development of a new exam system and instead will make enhancements to an existing legacy system.
Conceived in 2011, the new $5.4 million testing system was going to procure a commercial off-the-shelf product, enabling the commission to correct "serious security deficiencies" in its current system, according to a Department of Technology summary.
But the project was canceled in February as the system moved forward through the approval process. POST determined a better approach would be to make enhancements and cybersecurity improvements to its existing system, called the Testing Management and Assessment System (TMAS).
TMAS is a "software program that delivers cognitive written tests to basic course presenters. These tests are administered to students attending basic courses," according to a description on the commission's website.
POST expects to make the enhancements to its legacy system within a year. The commission did not immediately have information about how much was spent on the canceled testing system.
The commission has its own Computer Services Bureau with three units: an Applications Development Unit; the Web Development Unit; and the Network, Server and PC Support Unit.
Participation in the POST program is voluntary for California's law enforcement agencies, according to the POST website. About 600 agencies choose to participate. The commission's mission includes the delivery of training programs and professional certificates to recognize peace officers.