143.07 APPOINTMENT OF POLICE CHIEF.

   (a)   The provisions of Ohio R.C. Chapter 124 and any other section of the Ohio Revised Code or the Fairfield Civil Service Commission Rules notwithstanding, the following shall be the procedure for the selection and appointment of the Chief of Police:

   (b)   Whenever a vacancy occurs in the position of Chief of Police in the 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 days of such certification conduct a competitive examination which shall include a performance assessment center procedure as part of the examination and which shall be public and open to all citizens of the United States and those persons who have legally declared their intentions of becoming U.S. citizens, within certain limitations to be determined by the Commission as to citizenship, residence, age, experience, education, health, habit and moral character. The Civil Service Commission shall require at a minimum that all applicants for the position of Chief of Police have at the time the vacancy is certified to the Commission:

      (1)   At least nine years of experience as a police officer.

      (2)   Attained and held for at least one year the rank of lieutenant or higher or attained and held for at least one year a comparable managerial or supervisory law enforcement position.

      (3)   A current Ohio Peace Officer Training Council certification as a police officer or an equivalent certification as a police officer from another state or jurisdiction as determined by the Commission.

   After such examination 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 persons standing highest on such list. Upon such certification, the appointing authority shall appoint one of the five persons so certified within thirty days.

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

   (d)   When an eligibility list is in existence and a vacancy occurs in the position of Chief of Police, the appointing authority shall certify that fact to the Civil Service Commission. The five persons standing highest on such list shall be certified to the appointing authority, and one of such persons shall be appointed within thirty days after such certification. When less than five names are certified, appointment from that list shall not be mandatory.

   (e)   There shall be no credit given or added to the examination score of any applicant for the position of Chief of Police 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 Chief of Police to any current or former employee of the City of Fairfield, Ohio.

(Ord. 140-98. Passed 8-24-98.)