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. If, after receiving notice from
the Commission that the candidate for chief is qualified, the appointing
authority votes to bestow civil service status on that person, he
may only be removed from the position of Chief of Police as set forth
in this chapter and in accordance with law.
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. During the probationary period,
a probationary police officer shall be considered to be an at-will
employee and shall not have the protections of civil service status
nor a right of appeal under this chapter in the event of suspension
or termination during the probationary period. A promoted police officer,
during probation, shall not have the protections of the civil service
status of his new rank during the probationary period and may be returned
to a prior rank at any time during the probationary period, for any
reason or no reason at all. However, at the end of the twelve-month
probationary period, if the conduct of the probationary police officer
has not been satisfactory to the appointing authority, the probationary
police officer shall be notified in writing that the appointment will
not be permanent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and if not otherwise
prohibited, the appointing authority reserves the right, in its sole
discretion, to extend the probationary period of an officer who has
not performed to the satisfaction of the appointing authority for
up to six additional months. At the end of the probationary period,
written notice that the probationary police officer's appointment
will not be permanent, then a newly hired probationary police officer's
employment shall end, and a probationary police officer shall return
to his previous rank. Any probationary police officer who is not informed
in writing that his performance has been unsatisfactory shall receive
a permanent appointment to the new position. Any probationary police
officer who is notified in writing that his appointment will not be
made permanent has no right of appeal under this chapter.
Whenever there are urgent reasons for the filling of a vacancy
in any position in the Police Department and there are no names on
the eligibility list for such appointment, the appointing authority
may nominate a person to the Commission for noncompetitive examination.
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 eligible candidates and a regular appointment shall then be
made from the name or names submitted by the Commission; provided,
however, that nothing within this section shall prevent the appointment,
without examination, of persons temporarily as police officers in
cases of riot or other emergency.