(a) The Commission shall adopt rules governing promotions within the Department in accordance with the requirements set forth in I.C., 36-8-3.5-13. The following factors will be considered, with the weight of each to be determined by the Commission: 1) written competitive examination score; 2) oral competitive interview score; 3) performance record; and 4) length of service. The member's length of service and oral interview score may not comprise more than 20% each of the rating.
(b) Promotions to a rank must be from the next lower rank, and the Department member being promoted must have served at the lower rank for a period determined by the Commission.
(c) Only members who are qualified in rank and length of service may be given the competitive examinations and placed on an eligibility list. The eligibility list for a position consists of members who have been placed on the list in order of their cumulative score on all rating factors. The eligibility list shall be maintained for two (2) years from the date of certification, after which time the list shall be retired and a new list established. The retired list shall be kept for five (5) years and then destroyed.
(d) Written competitive examinations shall be conducted, and appeals may be filed, pursuant to I.C., 36-8-3.5-14.
(e) The Commission shall adopt rules for determining a performance rating for Department members, pursuant to I.C., 36-8-3.5-15. Ratings shall be submitted to the Chief and kept on file, and the Chief shall notify each member in writing of his or her rating. Appeals may be filed pursuant to I.C., 36-8-3.5-15.
(f) When a vacancy in rank occurs, the Commission shall certify to the Chief the three (3) members with the highest scores on the eligibility list for that particular rank. Within six (6) months the Commission, upon the recommendation of the Chief, shall promote one (1) of those Department members to fill the vacant position.
(g) All promotions are probationary for a period not to exceed one (1) year. At the end of the period, a probationary member's superior shall review the member's performance and recommend to the Commission whether the promotion be made permanent, or revoked. The Commission shall prepare a rating chart for the superior's use in making the report. The Commission shall review the report and decide what action should be taken. The probationary member is entitled to counsel, and to be heard on any matter detrimental to the member in the superior's report, and to appeal a decision not to make the promotion permanent, pursuant to I.C., 36-8-3.5-16. If a promotion is revoked, the member may not be returned to a rank lower than he or she held before the probationary promotion. (Ord. 20-26, § 3, 10-5-20)