In the case of a vacancy in the office of Chief of Police, the
appointing authority has full discretion in selecting the individual
to fill the position of Chief of Police. If the appointing authority
requests the Commission to subject that person to a noncompetitive
examination, and if that person successfully passes the noncompetitive
examination, then the Commission shall notify the appointing authority
of the results of the examination.
Every successful applicant to the position of patrol officer or to a promotional position with the Police Department shall serve a twelve-month probationary period. For newly hired officers, the one-year probationary period shall not commence until after the officer has completed training under Act 120 and receives a certification number. During the probationary period, a newly hired officer may only be dismissed for cause for the reasons set forth in §
A376-20. A promoted officer, during probation, may be returned to a prior rank only for cause for the reasons set forth in §
A376-20. However, at the end of the twelve-month probationary period, if the conduct of the probationer has not been satisfactory to the Borough Council, the probationer shall be notified in writing that appointment will not be permanent. At that time, a newly hired officer's employment shall end, and a promoted officer shall return to a previous rank. Any officer who is not informed in writing that his performance has been unsatisfactory shall receive a permanent appointment to the new position. Any probationer who is not notified in writing that appointment will not be made permanent has no rights of appeal under these rules and regulations.
Whenever there are urgent reasons for filling of a vacancy in
any position in the Police Department and there are no names on the
eligible list for such appointment, the Borough Council may nominate
a person to the Commission for noncompetitive examination, and such
nominee may be certified by the Commission as qualified after such
noncompetitive examination and may be appointed provisionally to fill
such vacancy. It shall thereupon become the duty of the Commission
within three weeks to hold a competitive examination and certify a
list of eligibles, and then a regular appointment shall be made from
the name or names submitted by the Commission, provided that nothing
within this section shall prevent the appointment, without examination,
of persons temporarily as police officers in cases of riot or other
emergency.