[Amended 12-19-1990 by Ord. No. 17-90; 7-16-2008 by Ord. No. 16-2008; 6-19-2019 by Ord. No. 09-2019]
A promotion of any sworn full-time member of the Department to a superior position shall be made from the membership of the Police Department. Due consideration shall be given to the member so proposed for promotion and to the length and merit of his service. No person shall be eligible for promotion to be a superior officer unless he shall have previously served as a patrolman, shall have completed three years of service with the West Amwell Township Police Department and served a minimum of two years in his/her present rank.
No member of the Police Department shall be eligible for admittance to a promotional examination if his relative efficiency rating has been less than 70% over three consecutive rating periods.
Satisfactory completion of assigned police training programs shall also be among the prerequisites for a member to become eligible for promotion within the Police Department.
Upon creation of a vacancy in higher rank, replacement shall be determined on the basis of accreditation to be applied as follows:
A. 
Seniority. The candidate shall be credited with 1/2 point for each year of continuous service with the West Amwell Township Police Department.
B. 
Written examination. Written examination shall be conducted by the New Jersey Police Chiefs Association. The possible total valuation of the written examination shall be 50 points with 100% being perfect, and the applicant must attain at least 35 points (i.e., a passing grade of 70%) from this examination to be eligible for promotion to the next rank.
C. 
Oral interview. The Township Committee shall interview each candidate for promotion. Each candidate shall be graded as a result of the interview, with 25 points being perfect.
D. 
Personnel record. The personnel record of each candidate shall be judged by the Township Committee, having a possible total valuation of 25 points. The points credited shall be the Committee's decision.
A. 
Vacancy. When the governing body determines that it wishes to fill a vacancy for a position as a superior officer, it shall announce the opening to officers within the West Amwell Police Department by posting the same in a central location within headquarters.
B. 
Eligibility. All officers who meet the eligibility requirement of § 38-7 are eligible to be promoted to any available rank within the Department.
C. 
Register with Township Committee. All officers who desire to take the test for the purpose of selecting a superior officer will complete a registration form to be filed with the Township Committee.
D. 
Written examination. The New Jersey State Chiefs of Police Association or any other entity authorized by the governing body will administer the written examination.
E. 
List to be prepared. After the written examination has been concluded and scored, the list of applicants and their respective scores will be forwarded to the Township Committee. The results of the examination shall apply to the vacancy in the higher rank for which the examination was held.
F. 
Recommendation by the highest-ranking officer. The highest-ranking officer will prepare a summary of the service record for each applicant who completes the written examination. This summary will include commendations, disciplinary action, productivity and a recommendation by the highest-ranking officer, supported by documentation as to whether or not the candidate is worthy of promotion. These summaries will be forwarded to the Township Committee. If the highest-ranking officer is one of the candidates or otherwise has a conflict, the Township Committee shall review each applicant's personnel file and any available productivity or statistical reports available.
G. 
Promotion. After completing all phases of the accreditation process as described in § 38-10, the governing body will select the applicant with the highest score for promotion. If the governing body concludes that none of the applicants are suitable for promotion, the position may remain vacant. If the candidate declines the position, the governing body may choose to offer the position to the next highest scoring candidate or may decide to leave the position vacant. Final decision for promotions or appointments shall rest with the Township Committee.