(a) Belpre police officers must reside close enough to the Belpre City limits to be able to respond in a timely manner to an emergency situation. Thus, all City police officers must reside in Washington County or Meigs County, Ohio, in an Ohio county adjacent to Washington County, Ohio or in Wood County, West Virginia.
(b) Any Belpre police officer, who presently resides in Washington County or Meigs County, Ohio, in an Ohio County adjacent to Washington County, Ohio, or in Wood County, West Virginia, is prohibited from removing his or her residence to any other county. Violation of this provision shall be cause for discharge from employment with the City.
(c) A person who qualifies for employment as a Belpre police officer who does not meet the residency requirements of subsection (a) above may be hired, but must comply with the residency requirements of subsection (a) above by the end of said officer’s period of probationary employment. Failure to so comply within the probation period of employment will be cause for discharge from employment with the City.
(Ord. 13(2012-13). Passed 9-24-12.)