When a vacancy is to be filled in the Police Department, the
municipal governing body shall submit a written request to the Commission
for certification of eligibles. In making the request, the title of
the position to be filled shall be specified.
Upon receipt of a request from the municipal governing body,
the Commission shall first certify the names of those eligible who
were furloughed because of a reduction in force. In filling a vacancy
from the furlough list, the Commission shall certify the top name
only. If more than one vacancy is to be filled, the Commission shall
certify from the top of the list a number of names equal to the number
of vacancies to be filled. No examination, other than a physical examination
as directed by the Civil Service Commission, shall be required in
any case of reappointment or reinstatement.
If no furlough list exists or if the total number of vacancies cannot be filled from the available names on the furlough list, the Commission shall certify for each vacancy from the eligibility list the names of three persons, or a lesser number where three are not available, who have received the highest average. The municipal governing body shall make a conditional appointment from the three names certified, based solely on the merits and fitness of the candidates, unless Borough Council makes objection to the Commission regarding one or more of the certified persons for any of the reasons stated in §
17-24. Should the objections be sustained by the Commission, or if the conditional appointee is determined to be unqualified in accordance with the procedures set forth in §
17-26, the Commission shall strike the name of the person from the eligibility list and certify the next-highest name for each name stricken from the eligibility list. As each subsequent vacancy occurs in the same or another position, precisely the same procedure shall be followed. The number of available eligibles certified from the eligible list shall exceed by two for each vacancy to be filled from such eligible list. If there are fewer than three available eligibles on the eligible list, the municipal governing body may make a selection from such lesser number of available eligibles or may request that the Commission hold another examination.
Whenever the name of a person is certified from either the furlough
list or the eligible list, the person shall be notified immediately
of such certification. The notice shall include the title of the position
and the compensation to be paid and shall request a written reply
within seven days from the date of mailing.
All initial appointments to positions in the Police Department shall be for a probationary period of one year from the date of appointment. During the probationary period, an appointee may be dismissed only for a cause specified in §
17-54 or because of incapacity for duty due to the use of alcohol or drugs. The Chief of Police shall review the adjustment, performance and general acceptability of each probationer quarterly to determine whether such probationer is fully qualified for permanent appointment. The Chief of Police shall make a report to the municipal governing body recommending termination of employment of a police officer found not to be acceptable in his or her position and/or shall submit a final probationary report, not less than 10 nor more than 15 calendar days before the next regular meeting of the municipal governing body immediately preceding the end of the probationary period. Each final probationary report shall include the recommendation of the Chief of Police to retain the probationer. Each report shall be submitted in writing to the municipal governing body. Within five calendar days after receiving a probationary report from the Chief of Police recommending retention or rejection of a probationer, the municipal governing body shall notify the Commission, in writing, of its decision to retain or remove the probationer. The Commission, in turn, shall notify the probationer of such decision within five calendar days and in no event beyond the last day of the probationary period.