SECTION 7. DEPARTMENT OF POLICE.

   The police force shall consist of a Chief of Police and such officers and employees as may be provided by City Council. The Chief of Police shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to the approval of a majority of all members of City Council, and shall be subject to removal by the Mayor, provided that upon removal of the Chief of Police, the Mayor shall state in the notice of termination the reason for the termination. In addition to any other candidate- screening process established by the Mayor, all candidates shall submit to an examination approved by the Mayor to test the candidates’ qualifications, knowledge, skills, and aptitudes. Candidates for the position of Chief of Police need not be City employees at the time of their application. The Chief of Police shall be subject to the same limitations on political activities that apply generally to classified civil servants. Original appointments to the rank of Patrolman in the Police Department shall be by open competitive examination and the Mayor shall appoint from the top ten candidates certified by the Civil Service Commission. Appointments to any rank below Chief of Police and above Patrolman shall be by promotional examination and the Mayor shall appoint from among the top three candidates certified by the Civil Service Commission. The Civil Service Commission shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this Section with respect to classified civil servants. With the exception of the Chief of Police, all full-time employees of the Police Department shall be in the classified civil service. (Amended 11-4-03.)