The head of the Pennsylvania State Police has requested a second investigation related to cheating allegations involving cadets at the agency's academy.

State Police Commissioner Tyree Blocker said in a release today that he is asking the state Office of Inspector General to conduct the second investigation because of the “broad nature” of the allegations. Therefore, “an outside investigation is in the best interest of both the state police and the people of Pennsylvania."

Mr. Blocker said internal affairs at the state police initiated "a full and comprehensive investigation" in December into the suspected cheating. There were allegations that as many as 40 cadets from a class scheduled to graduate on Friday may have cheated on tests.

While the commissioner expressed "tremendous confidence" in the internal affairs investigation, he nevertheless "requested that the Office of Inspector General initiate a comprehensive investigation upon a referral from the state police. I am requesting OIG to use its experience and resources to look at allegations about the academy. In addition, I have asked OIG to consider what factors may have contributed to any misconduct and make recommendations."

According to the release, several cadets at the academy have either resigned or been dismissed.

State police cadets must go through a 27-week training course while residing at the academy in Hershey.

First Published: March 16, 2016, 10:40 p.m.