Establishing a Merit System of Promotions for the Bureau of Police

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Appointment to the rank of Chief of Police shall be made as presently provided for by law of any member of the Bureau of Police with at least seven (7) years of service. Appointment to the rank of Divisional Chief shall be made as presently provided for by law of any member of the police department having obtained the rank of a captain. Such regulations shall be printed and copies of said regulations shall be furnished to each member of said Bureau of Police. Any amendments to these regulations shall be made at least thirty (30)days prior to any promotion or demotion, and said amend- ments to these regulations shall be printed and furnished to all members of said Bureau of Police. SECTION XI. There shall be a list of specific study material published and posted by the Board and written competitive and situational examinations administered on this specific material for the purpose of filling any existing vacancies in the ranks that may occur from time to time. Any member of said Bureau of Police shall have the right to acquire said material and shall prepare himself in any manner available to him, provided, however, that only those members who are qualified in rank and length of service as provided by this Act shall be given the written final examinations covering topics specified in the announced material and an eligibility list developed according to the grade received. SECTION XII. The Board shall have the power and authority to promote and demote any member of the Bureau of Police qualified in accordance with the promo- tional procedure as prescribed by the Board in its rules and regulations, but the Board of Public Safety of such city shall have the sole power of appointing as Chief of Police any member of the Bureau who has completed seven (7) years of active service and Divisional Chiefs of Police any member of the Bureau of Police who has attained the rank of Captain. Provided, further, the Board of Public Safety of such city shall have the sole power of removing such chief of police and divisional chiefs without cause and without provision of appeal; provided, that the removal of any member of the Bureau of Police as Chief of Police and Divisional Chiefs shall be deemed as removal from rank only, and not from the Bureau of Police; provided, further that upon expiration of the term of any Chief of Police such person shall be appointed by the Board to the permanent rank which he held at the time of his appointment as chief or divisional chief of the Bureau. The positions of chief and divisional chief shall be considered appointed positions to serve at the discretion of the Mayor. Officers appointed to either of these positions shall upon expiration, resignation, or removal, be appointed to the permanet rank held prior to their appointment as chief or divisional chief; provided further, that the chief of police, during his tenure in office, shall be eligible to compete for and qualify on promotional eligibility lists as provided by this Act. SECTION XIII. The Board of Public Safety shall have the sole power of exacting fines, punishment, and dismissal of any member of the Bureau of Police found guilty of being in violation of the rules and regulations of the Bureau of Police in accordance with state laws governing cities of the second class and the process of appeal shall be in accordance with existing state laws. The Board of Public Safety may delegate to the Chief of Police in writing the authority to suspend a police officer without pay for periods up to and including ten (10) days and also may author- ize the Chief of Police to relieve an officer of duty with pay for the same period of time.