The Police Department is continued. The head of the Department shall be known as the Chief of Police and the number of additional members of the Department shall be determined by the Council. The Chief of Police and Assistant Police Chief shall be appointed by and serve at the will of the Council. The Chief of Police shall appoint police officers, subject to confirmation by the Council. The compensation to be paid members of the Department shall be set by the Council. In the absence or disability of the Chief, the Assistant Chief shall perform all the functions and exercise all of the authority of the Chief. The Police Chief, the Assistant Police Chief and all Police Department personnel shall be not less than 18, nor more than 65, years of age and able-bodied. They shall become members of the Police Department only after a 12-month probationary period. The Council may require that each candidate, before becoming a probationary police officer, must satisfy certain minimum qualifications, which may be specified by the Council, and that the candidate must pass a satisfactory physical examination. The Council shall review these minimum requirements annually.
(2001 Code, § 2.21)