Thirty-one Paterson police supervisors, including several lieutenants who oversee shootings, narcotics, and juvenile cases, could be demoted after the state Civil Service Commission moved to nullify a 2019 promotional exam and require them to retake it.

The 2019 exam was administered statewide. However, according to the Police Benevolent Association, only Paterson and Newark officers challenged the results, so only promoted officers in those cities must retake the test.

The fallout stems from a legal battle over the commission’s decision not to score the final 10 questions on the 2019 test. Officials were concerned that the questions could produce racially disparate results, according to court documents.

Some officers disputed that, saying the questions focused on attorney general guide

See Full Page