143.06 PROMOTIONS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

   (a)   The provisions of Ohio R.C. 124.44 and any other section of the Ohio Revised Code notwithstanding, the following shall be the minimum period of service in lower rank in order to be eligible for promotion in the Police Department.

   (b)   No person in the Police Department shall be eligible to take a promotional examination for the position of Sergeant in the Police Department who, prior to the date of the examination, has not served at least thirty-six (36) consecutive months in the next lower rank of the Police Department with the City. No person in the Police Department shall be eligible to take a promotional examination for any position other than Sergeant in the Police Department who, immediately prior to the date of the examination, has not served at least twelve (12) consecutive months in the next lower rank.

   (c)   With regard to promotions to the position of Major/Deputy Police Chief, the following shall apply:

      (1)   Whenever a vacancy occurs in the position of Major/Deputy Police Chief in the Fairfield Police Department and no eligibility list for such position exists, the appointing authority shall certify that fact to the Civil Service Commission, and the Commission shall within ninety (90) days of such certification conduct an examination which may consist partially or completely of a performance assessment center procedure as determined by the Commission.

      (2)   The examination procedure shall be open to those individuals who have attained and held the rank of Police Sergeant in the Fairfield Police Department for twelve (12) consecutive months immediately prior to the date of the examination and who hold current Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) certification as a police officer.

      (3)   The Civil Service Commission may also determine in its discretion that the examination procedure shall be open to other qualified applicants who the Commission determines meet the qualifications contained in the job description for the position of Major/Deputy Police Chief and hold a current Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) certification as a police officer.

      (4)   All applicants must be within certain limitations to be determined by the Civil Service Commission as to citizenship, residence, age, experience, education, health, habit and moral character.

      (5)   After such examination/assessment center procedure has been held, an eligibility list shall be established in accordance with the rules of the Commission and the Commission shall certify to the appointing authority the names of the five (5) persons standing highest on such list upon such certification, the appointing authority shall appoint one of the five (5) persons so certified within thirty (30) days.

      (6)   Eligibility lists for the position of Major/Deputy Police Chief shall be effective for one (1) year, unless extended by the Civil Service Commission for an additional period not to exceed one (1) year.

      (7)   When an eligibility list is in existence and a vacancy occurs in the position of Major/Deputy Police Chief, the appointing authority shall certify that fact to the Civil Service Commission. The five (5) persons standing highest on such list shall be certified to the appointing authority, and one of such persons shall be appointed within thirty (30) days after such certification.

      (8)   When less than five (5) names reamin on an eligibility list, the names shall be certified but appointment from such names or list shall not be mandatory.

      (9)   There shall be no credit given or added to the examination score or ranking of any applicant for the position of Major/Deputy Police Chief for seniority or efficiency in the service of the City or for military service. There shall be no preference given on the examination score or in the ranking of the applicants for the position of Major/Deputy Police Chief to any current or former employee of the City of Fairfield, Ohio.

   (d)   Except as specifically modified in this chapter or otherwise inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter, the provisions of Ohio R.C. 124.44 and all other applicable sections of the Ohio Revised Code relative to promotions in the Fairfield Police Department shall remain in full force and effect.

(Ord. 6-22. Passed 1-24-22.)