(A) The Merit Commission shall certify to the Sheriff the names of eligible persons who stand highest upon the promotional register for the rank to which the position belongs, in accordance with the rules, regulations and procedures of the Merit Commission.
(B) The Commission shall make certification for promotion on the basis of ascertained merit, seniority of service and physical and other qualifying examinations as promulgated in the Commission rules, regulations and procedures.
(C) The Sheriff shall appoint from the list of certified names from the promotional register. However, if the Sheriff rejects all persons so certified, he or she shall state his or her reason for such refusal in writing to the Commission.
(D) All vacancies in the ranks of the classified service above the lowest shall be filled by promotion except that the Merit Commission may by regulation, provide that a former Sheriff may be appointed by a successor Sheriff to any rank after he or she has been certified by the Commission or that applicants who have served with another Sheriff’s office, a police department or any other law enforcement agency, may be given credit for purposes other than pay for time so served and may receive an initial appointment to a rank above the lowest.
(E) Personnel appointed to the higher rank shall be on probation in such higher rank for a period of 12 months. Such appointees may be demoted by the Sheriff to their former rank at any time during the period of probation, if in the opinion of the Sheriff, they have failed to demonstrate the ability and the qualifications necessary to furnish satisfactory service and the Sheriff has informed the Merit Commission of such findings.
(Res. passed 10-17-2012)