[Ord. 42-1971 § 3, passed 6-30-1971]
Bureau-wide notice of all vacancies in the nonexempt service, by rank, shall be given at least two weeks in advance of the last date for filing applications, by posting of an official announcement on all Bureau bulletin boards and by placing a copy of such announcements in the mailbox of each sworn employee of the Police Bureau. The Chief of Police shall be responsible for seeing that each employee on leave away from the Bureau be mailed a copy of the announcement at his temporary address.
This official announcement shall contain a clear statement of the following information:
(a) 
The name of the rank for which the examination is being held.
(b) 
The minimum requirements to compete for the promotion.
(c) 
The various parts that will make up the examination and the weights that will be assigned to each part.
(d) 
How each competitor's final score will be computed.
(e) 
The passing mark required, if any, on each part of the examination.
(f) 
If a written test is to be a part, a listing of printed materials suggested for study purposes and on which a majority of the written test questions will be based.
(g) 
The subject matter areas that will be tested by the written test, and the traits that will be rated by the oral interview when such parts are used.
(h) 
As much as possible, a statement of the date, time and place where the various parts of the examination will be held.
(i) 
The last date and time for filing applications and place of filing.
[Ord. 42-1971 § 3, passed 6-30-1971]
Each person who wishes to compete in a promotion examination must file a written application in the form prescribed by the Board. The application must be filed with the Secretary of the Board before the time limit fixed by the announcement.
[Ord. 42-1971 § 3, passed 6-30-1971]
The minimum requirement for eligibility to compete in a promotion examination shall be as follows:
(a) 
To compete for the rank of sergeant, each applicant must have completed at least 2 1/2 years of service as a sworn member of the Police Bureau.
(b) 
To compete for any rank above sergeant, each applicant must have completed at least one year of service in the rank next lower than the rank for which he is competing, except that in the first promotion examination given under these rules, an applicant who has completed three years of service in the rank of sergeant may compete for both the ranks of lieutenant and captain.
Eligibility for any examination shall be determined as of the last date for filing applications for that examination.
[Ord. 42-1971 § 3, passed 6-30-1971]
The Board shall reject the application of any applicant when it has determined:
(a) 
That the application was not filed with the Secretary of the Board within that period specified by the official announcement.
(b) 
That the application was not filed on the prescribed form.
(c) 
That the applicant does not meet the eligibility requirement set forth in the official announcement.
(d) 
That the applicant, after sufficient notification, did not promptly present himself at the time and place designated for each part of the examination.
(e) 
That, upon official request of the Chief of Police, the applicant has a work record with the Police Bureau not consistent with the standards expected of potential promotable applicants. The Board shall require that the Chief of Police substantiate a request of this nature with evidence of written reprimands, with completed performance evaluation sheets or with formal records of suspensions and other disciplinary action.
Whenever an applicant is rejected, written notice of such rejection and the reasons for the action shall be given to the applicant.
[Ord. 42-1971 § 3, passed 6-30-1971]
All promotions to positions in the nonexempt service shall be made on the basis of the relative merit and fitness of the applicant, which shall be ascertained by a promotion examination which shall be prepared by, or under the direction of, the Board.
The Board shall have the authority to retain a professional testing service for the preparation and grading of the tests involved.
All examinations shall be competitive, shall be fair and impartial and shall relate to those matters which will fairly test the capacity and fitness of the applicants to discharge competently the duties of the rank for which they are competing.
[Ord. 42-1971 § 3, passed 6-30-1971]
The Board shall determine separately for each examination which one or ones of the following parts shall make the examination:
(a) 
A written test.
(b) 
An oral test or interview.
(c) 
A medical examination.
(d) 
A psychiatric examination.
(e) 
A rating of job performance (efficiency).
(f) 
A rating of total past service with the Police Bureau and time in grade (seniority).
(g) 
A rating of formal police training, college courses and awards.
A promotion examination may take into consideration such factors as education, experience, aptitude, knowledge, motivation and drive, physical fitness and any other qualifications and attributes which, in the judgment of the Board, enter into a determination of the relative fitness of the applicants.
[Ord. 42-1971 § 3, passed 6-30-1971]
The identity of every candidate taking a promotion written test shall be concealed from the Board by the use of a numbered identification sheet. This identification sheet shall be filled in and signed by the candidate and sealed into an identification envelope before he commences the written part of the examination. The identification envelopes shall not be opened until all written test papers have been completely rated and the Board has determined the minimum passing score for the examination. Any applicant whose written test answer paper carries his name or any other unauthorized identifying mark, and any applicant who reveals his identification number to any member of the Board or to any person or persons assisting the Board shall be disqualified and the applicant so notified.
[Ord. 42-1971 § 3, passed 6-30-1971]
Any part of the promotion examination for any rank may be either qualifying, that is, scored only on a pass or fail basis, or ranking, that is, scored on a numerical basis. For each examination, the Board shall determine whether each part is to be scored on a qualifying or ranking basis and shall so specify in the official announcement.
[Ord. 42-1971 § 3, passed 6-30-1971]
In any examination in which there is more than one ranking part, the Board shall determine the weight to be assigned to each part. The weight shall be stated as, or equated to, a percentage so that the total of the weights for all ranking parts shall equal 100%. Each part and the weights assigned shall be specified in the official announcement of the examination.
[Ord. 42-1971 § 3, passed 6-30-1971]
The Board may, at its discretion, require that each candidate pass separately any of the parts of the examination, except seniority and formal police training, etc., in order to compete in subsequent parts of the examination.
Each ranking part of the examination, except seniority and ratings for formal police training, college courses and awards, shall be rated independently on a scale of zero to 100 with 100 for maximum possible attainment, or for the highest score attained, and seventy for the required minimum passing score, and zero for the lowest possible score or the lowest score attained. Seniority and formal police training, etc. will be rated on a scale of 70 for the lowest possible score and 100 for the highest possible score.
See Section 133.16 for fraud in examination.
[Ord. 42-1971 § 3, passed 6-30-1971]
Whenever the Board decides that a written test shall be part of the examination, it shall make sure that the test questions sample fairly the knowledge required for successful performance in the rank under examination.
[Ord. 42-1971 § 3, passed 6-30-1971]
For each written test, the Board shall determine the minimum passing score either:
(a) 
After the candidates' answer sheets are scored and before any candidates' identity is known to the Board; or
(b) 
Before the examination is announced.
The minimum passing score determined or the decision to set the minimum passing score after scoring, shall be stated in the announcement of the examination.
When the minimum passing score of a part is determined after the candidates' answer papers are scored, the Board shall determine the appropriate minimum passing score, using appropriate scientific techniques and procedures, and taking into consideration the overall quality of the candidates competing, the parts of the examination to follow and the number of vacancies anticipated in the rank during the life of the list. This passing score on a written test shall be determined before the candidates' identification envelopes are opened.
[Ord. 42-1971 § 3, passed 6-30-1971]
Whenever the Board establishes a minimum passing score which is other than 70% of the number of questions, it shall convert the scores of the candidates to a scale of 70 to 100, so that the minimum passing score equals 70 and, either the maximum possible attainment on the test or the highest score attained for any candidate, equals 100. The scores of failing candidates on the written test need not be converted and shall be reported to the candidate in terms of raw scores and the candidate should also be notified of the minimum passing score.
[Ord. 42-1971 § 3, passed 6-30-1971]
Any candidate who competes in a written part of an examination, as provided by these rules, shall have the right to review his answer sheet and a copy of the examination which shows the correct answer to each question. This review shall be held within seven calendar days after the administration of the written test and shall be held under the supervision of a member of the Board.
Every candidate reviewing test papers is expressly forbidden from copying any substantive part of any question used on the test, excepting that he may take brief notes that will enable him to research source documents. All such notes taken by the candidates during the review period shall be reviewed and approved by a Board member before the candidate is allowed to take such notes with him.
[Ord. 42-1971 § 3, passed 6-30-1971]
A candidate shall be allowed to appeal the answer to a written test question to the Board within 14 calendar days from the date of the test. A candidate shall be allowed to present any documentation to the Board to support his appeal. The Board shall consider all such appeals and, if it deems justified, make necessary corrections in what will be considered the correct answer(s) to each question. This shall be done before the final scores are assigned the candidates and the passing score determined.
[Ord. 42-1971 § 3, passed 6-30-1971]
Whenever the Board decides that an oral interview shall be part of the examination process, it shall prescribe the rating members of the Oral Interview Board. The Oral Interview Board members may be selected either from within or without the Bureau, except that no member of the Police Bureau shall serve on an Oral Interview Board unless he is in a rank higher than the rank being examined and a majority of the Board must be involved in work with the police profession. In addition, only one member of the Board may serve as an Oral Interview Rater on any single examination.
[Ord. 42-1971 § 3, passed 6-30-1971]
The traits to be rated on the oral interview shall be set forth in the announcement and each trait shall be rated on a form and in a manner prescribed by the Board. On all oral interviews, a score of 70 shall be established as the minimum passing score for the oral interview and shall reflect performance that is just barely acceptable for consideration for promotion to the higher rank.
[Ord. 42-1971 § 3, passed 6-30-1971]
The Board may determine the fitness of applicants to compete for promotion by either requesting a certification from the Chief of Police as to the fitness of the applicants or by requiring medical examination by a qualified doctor.
Whenever the Board determines that a medical examination shall be part of the examination process, it shall employ the doctor or doctors who will examine the applicants. All costs of medical examinations conducted by a doctor specified by the Board shall be borne by the Board.
[Ord. 42-1971 § 3, passed 6-30-1971]
Any applicant who is rejected as being unfit by the Board's doctor may, at his own expense, submit a report to the Board from a doctor of his own choice. The decision of the Board, after reviewing both reports, shall be final.
[Ord. 42-1971 § 3, passed 6-30-1971]
The Board may determine the emotional stability and mental health of an applicant by either requesting a certification from the Chief of Police as to the character and mental health of the applicant, or by requiring that each applicant submit to a psychiatric examination.
Whenever the Board determines that a psychiatric examination shall be a part of the examination, it shall employ the doctor or doctors who will examine the applicant. Such doctor shall be either a psychiatrist who is Board eligible or Board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology or a clinical psychologist, certified under the program administered by the Pennsylvania Psychological Association, affiliated with the American Psychological Association.
[Ord. 42-1971 § 3, passed 6-30-1971]
Any applicant who is rejected as being unfit by the Board's doctor may, at his own expense, submit a report to the Board from a doctor of his own choice. The decision of the Board, after reviewing both reports, shall be final.
[Ord. 42-1971 § 3, passed 6-30-1971]
The Board shall include in each examination a rating for seniority, which shall include a rating for total continuous service in the Police Bureau and may include a rating for total continuous service in the rank from which promotion is sought.
A rating for seniority shall be initially computed in the form of additional points as follows:
(a) 
One point for each year of continuous service in the Police Bureau, up to a maximum of 20 points.
(b) 
Plus, one additional point for each year of continuous service in any rank, above the rank of patrolman, from which promotion is sought, up to a maximum of five points.
These point totals for each candidate shall be converted to a scale of 70 to 100 and added to the scores of passing candidates in accordance with the weights assigned in the announcement. The converted score 70 shall be for the least allowable years of seniority and 100 for the highest allowable years.
[Ord. 42-1971 § 3, passed 6-30-1971]
When the Board decides that a rating for efficiency shall be part of the examination, it shall use the ratings developed by the performance evaluation system, established by Section 133.124 of these rules. The ratings of efficiency shall be on a scale of one to 100, with a rating of 70 reflecting a candidate whose job performance is just barely acceptable, that is, an applicant whose performance on his present job is at the level where he is not so bad as to require demotion, but if he were a new applicant for the rank, he would not be appointed.
[Ord. 42-1971 § 3, passed 6-30-1971]
Whenever the Board determines that a rating for formal police training, college course work or awards will be used as a part of the examination, it shall initially use the point schedule set forth in Section 133.13. These points, for each candidate, shall be converted to a scale of 70 for no points and 100 for the highest number of points accumulated by a candidate. The converted rating for formal police training, college courses and awards shall only be added to the scores of passing candidates in accordance with the weights assigned in the announcement.
[Ord. 42-1971 § 3, passed 6-30-1971]
In order for a candidate's name to appear on an eligible list, he must attain a passing score on each part which candidates are required to pass separately, and also a general average score of at least 70% on all ranking parts of the examination.
An applicant's general average score shall be computed by multiplying his score, on each ranking part of the examination by the weight assigned in the official announcement for that part, and dividing this quotient by 100, the sum of the weights of all the ranking parts of the examination.
[Ord. 42-1971 § 3, passed 6-30-1971]
Any examination or any part thereof may be canceled or postponed by the Board and each applicant shall be notified of the cancellation and the reason for the action.
[Ord. 42-1971 § 3, passed 6-30-1971]
Each candidate who competes in any part of an examination shall be given written notice on his score on that part. Each candidate who passes the entire examination shall be given written notice, which shall include his score on each part and his rank on the eligible list. Such notice shall be given after the eligible list is officially established, but, at the discretion of the Board, may be given to all candidates simultaneously at an earlier date.
[Ord. 42-1971 § 3, passed 6-30-1971]
The probationary period shall be regarded as an integral part of the examination process and shall be utilized for closely observing the employee's work, for securing the most effective judgment of how the employee adjusts to his new rank and for rejecting any employee whose performance does not meet the required work standards.
Every employee receiving a promotion, except employees reinstated or demoted, shall first attain probationary status and serve a probationary period of six months, starting from the date of appointment. Two weeks before an employee's probationary period is ended, the Chief of Police shall certify to the Board, in writing, whether or not the employee shall be given tenure or shall be returned to his old rank and a new certification sought. Employees who fail their probationary period and are returned to their old rank have no appeal for this action.
An employee who successfully passes his probationary period shall be given tenure in the rank and shall only be removed from that rank in accordance with the provisions of the these rules. An employee promoted retains tenure in his old rank until he successfully passes his probationary period.