Investigation into LMPD officer raises questions about his criminal cases

The written exam is fair and objective, the answer is either right or wrong. Read everything and try to memorize as much as possible, that's all you can really do. The assessment center is much too subjective, it's really getting into murky water. There is too much inconsistency, and left up to the whims of the assessors. That's why there are large fluctuations between the written exam list and the final promotional list. There needs to be a better and more encompassing way than the current assessment center.

People can only sue for discrimination and have a chance of winning when it involves a merit based exam. People applying for special duty assignments, Detective positions, Major, and higher levels are not chosen through a merit-based system. Most smaller agencies even pick their Sergeants and new officers without much regard to test results, if any at all. Federal courts run are run by much more conservative judges than in the past and aren't as likely to award huge amounts to people suing for discrimination. These decisions have always involved a huge amount of favoritism and office politics, and it's only gotten worse since merger thanks to them getting rid of the Captains. The favorites get put into spots where they can study for the promotion exams while on duty. Take a look at some of the people who've been picked for Detective instead of much better qualified people. Look at how little work some of those people do every day.

I don't see many people winning any big discrimination lawsuits lately. Promotion systems don't shield a department from vicarious liability. That's usually caused by not properly training or correcting your officer misconduct before they do something really stupid.