In order to be eligible for participation in any examination for any position with the Police Department, every applicant must submit a completed application form to the Commission before the deadline stated by the Commission for that specific examination. The application form is attached as Appendix A-1[1] and incorporated into these rules and regulations. The application must be completed truthfully, and the applicant is subject to the penalties of 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 4904 relating to unsworn falsification to authorities.
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix A-1 is included as an attachment to this chapter.
The Borough is an equal opportunity employer. It is the Borough's and the Commission's policy to grant equal employment opportunities to qualified persons without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, marital status or non-job-related physical or mental handicap or disability. The Borough and the Commission will provide equal opportunities in employment and promotion.
Application forms shall be available to all interested persons in the office of the Borough Secretary and from such other offices and officers that the Commission, from time to time, may choose to designate. Application forms may be mailed upon written or telephone request. However, the Commission assumes no responsibility for missed filing deadlines due to a delay in the mail.
All applicants must have reached their 21st birthday before the deadline for submitting completed applications. Each applicant shall provide satisfactory evidence of date of birth.
Every applicant for any position in the Police Department shall posses a diploma from an accredited high school or a graduate equivalency diploma. In addition, every applicant must be a United States citizen, be physically and mentally fit to perform the full duties of a police officer, be of good moral character and, prior to appointment, possess a valid motor vehicle operator's license issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
An investigation of the character and reputation of the applicant shall be made by the Commission and will include credit reports and reports of investigations from recognized agencies. Credit reports alone are not sufficient to disqualify an applicant.
A. 
In addition to meeting the qualifications in § A131-19 above, all applicants for a promotional position, except Chief, shall have not been suspended without pay at any time three years prior to the deadline for submitting applications [Attachment A-1(a)].[1] Any suspension to which the applicant has timely appealed pursuant to a grievance procedure or these rules and regulations shall be disregarded unless the appeal is resolved prior to the creation of the eligibility list.
[1]
Editor's Note: Attachment A-1(a) is included as an attachment to this chapter.
B. 
All applicants shall have continuous prior service with the Police Department of Steelton Borough as follows:
(1) 
An applicant for the position of Corporal shall have at least three years of service with the Department.
(2) 
An applicant for the position of Sergeant shall have at least five years of service with the Department.
(3) 
An applicant for the position of Lieutenant shall have at least seven years of service with the Department.
(4) 
An applicant shall have graduated from a state-recognized police academy or school (or have been grandfathered from such requirement) and must have achieved state certification or recertification.
(5) 
An applicant shall have demonstrated an ability to carry out orders from superiors.
(6) 
An applicant shall have demonstrated a working knowledge of police science and administration as ascertained by an appropriate promotional examination.
(7) 
An applicant will have demonstrated an ability to supervise the work of subordinates, if any.
Applications for positions in the Police Department shall be received at the Borough Municipal Building only after an examination has been properly advertised and before the deadline for receiving applications, which must be set forth in the public advertisement. Applications will be received by the municipal officer designated in the public advertisement or his designee. That person shall record the receipt of all applications and provide each applicant with notice of the time and place for the first portion of the testing procedure, the written examination. A copy of the form for that notice is attached as Appendix A-2[1] and incorporated into these rules and regulations. Any application containing material errors or omissions may, at the discretion of the Commission, be returned to the applicant for correction prior to the deadline for filing applications, after which no new applications or amended applications will be accepted.
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix A-2 is included as an attachment to this chapter.
The Commission may refuse to examine or, if examined, may refuse to certify as eligible after examination any applicant who is found to lack any of the minimum qualifications for examination prescribed in these rules and regulations for the particular position for which the applicant has applied. In addition, the Commission may refuse to examine or, if examined, may refuse to certify any applicant who is physically or mentally unfit to perform the full duties of the position to which he seeks employment or who is addicted to the habitual use of intoxicating liquors or narcotic drugs or who is guilty of any crime involving moral turpitude or of infamous or notoriously disgraceful conduct or who has been dismissed from public service for delinquency or misconduct in office or who is affiliated with any group whose policies or activities are subversive to the form of government set forth in the constitutions and laws of the United States and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Applications for positions in the Police Department may be received at any time during normal business hours in the main office of the Steelton Borough Municipal Building. The receipt of such applications shall be subject to the following conditions:
A. 
No application received after 4:00 p.m. prevailing time on any day that is 14 calendar days prior to the date fixed for the written examination in the public announcement shall be considered for such examination.
B. 
An application shall become invalid one year after the date upon which it was received.
Any applicant or other person who believes that he is aggrieved by the actions of the Commission in refusing to examine or to certify him as eligible after examination may request a hearing before the Commission. Within 10 days after such request, the Commission shall designate a time and place for the hearing, which shall be conducted pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Local Agency Law, 2 Pa.C.S.A. § 101 et seq.[1] The applicant or aggrieved party must take his request for a hearing in writing within 10 calendar days of the date when the party knew or should have known of the Commission's action which is being challenged.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 2 Pa.C.S.A. § 551 et seq.
The Commission shall conspicuously post in the Borough Municipal Building notice of the time and place of every examination, together with the information as to the type of position to be filled, the requirements for that position, where applications may be obtained for the examination and the deadline for filing those applications. In addition, at least two weeks prior to each examination, publication of the notice shall occur in at least one newspaper of general circulation or a newspaper circulating generally in the Borough. A model notice for posting the publication is attached as Appendix A-3[1] and incorporated into these rules and regulations.
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix A-3 is included as an attachment to this chapter.