(A) There is hereby created a Board of Fire and Police Commissioners in accordance with and pursuant to 65 ILCS 5/10-2.1, which Board shall consist of five members who shall be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the City Council. Such Commissioners shall have the qualifications, take oath, give bond, and meet such other requirements as other appointive officers in the City of Mt. Vernon and as required by law. Each Commissioner shall serve for a term of three (3) years with the terms being staggered, except one Commissioner appointed in 2018 shall serve an initial term of four (4) years, which terms shall commence May 1 and expire April 30, three years succeeding. Upon a Commissioner’s term expiring, the position becomes vacant unless filled by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council within sixty (60) days of expiration of the term. (Note: given the provisions of this amending Ordinance, the terms of the Commissioners after adoption of the Ordinance shall expire as follows: one Commissioner in 2018, one Commissioner in 2019, and one Commissioner in 2020, which three dates reflect the existing three Commissioners serving their current terms with current expiration dates, and the two new appointments to the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners serving terms expiring in 2021 and 2022.)
(B) The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners shall have such duties and such power and authority as shall be granted by the provisions of Division 2.1 of Article 10 of the Illinois Municipal Code and by the Ordinances of the City and shall make rules only concerning the appointment, removal, and discharge of officers and members of the Fire and Police Departments of the City, and shall maintain eligibility registers of persons eligible for appointment to each Department. Appointments to each Department, except that of the lowest rank (e.g. Patrolman or Fire Fighter) and except that of the Chief and the Assistant Chief of the Police Department and the Chief and the Assistant Chief of the Fire Department, shall be from the rank next below that to which the appointment is made. The Chief and the Assistant Chief of the Police Department and the Chief and the Assistant Chief of the Fire Department may be appointed from among members of the Police and Fire Departments regardless of rank or may be appointed from any qualified applicants from the general public without first considering members of the Department. The Rules and Regulations of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners providing for appointments shall be consistent with this Section.
(C) (1) All applicants for a position in either the Fire or Police Department of the City shall be at least 21 years of age. All applicants for a position in the Fire Department or Police Department shall be citizens of the United States, and applicants for a position in the Fire Department, except Chief or Assistant Chief, shall, in addition, be residents of Jefferson County, Illinois for not less than six months prior to the date of the application.
(2) All persons appointed to the position of Chief or Assistant Chief of the Fire Department and all persons appointed to a position in the Police Department shall, during their first six months of employment, become bona fide residents of Jefferson County, Illinois.
(3) Except as herein provided, all persons appointed to a position in the Fire or Police Department shall be and remain domiciled and bona fide, full-time residents of Jefferson County, Illinois during any time when they shall hold such position with the City.
(4) Any employee who shall fail to establish and/or maintain his domicile and residency within Jefferson County, Illinois shall be subject to discharge from employment with the City.
(D) (1) The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners may, upon adoption of Rules consistent with this Section, consider and appoint Applicants who meet the requirements hereinafter set forth for lateral entry to the Police Department without such candidates participating in the hiring process for Original Appointments; provided that such appointments, except as provided herein, shall be subject to all other applicable Rules of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners. A lateral entry Police Officer appointed by the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners shall be at the patrol officer level with service time starting on the date when sworn in as a member of the City of Mt. Vernon Police Department. A lateral entry Police Officer shall be subject to the same probationary conditions as applicable to Original Appointments, and may also be subject to additional probationary educational and training requirements if the Applicant is appointed as a lateral entry based upon being a certified civilian police officer from another jurisdiction, including a requirement of obtaining Certification as a Police Office pursuant to the Illinois Police Training Act (Act (50 ILCS 705/1) within 6 months from date of appointment. A lateral entry Police Officer appointed by the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners must establish residency within Jefferson County Illinois within six months from date of appointment.
(2) An Applicant for appointment as a lateral entry shall meet the following qualifications:
(a) The Applicant must be a citizen of the United States.
(b) The Applicant must be 21 years of age at the time of appointment and must not exceed the maximum age as determined by the provisions of the Illinois Fire and Police Commissioners Act (65 ILCS 5/10-2.1).
(c) The Applicant must be a high school graduate with diploma or its equivalent.
(d) The Applicant must have a valid driver’s license.
(e) The Applicant must not have any felony convictions or any misdemeanor convictions involving moral turpitude, as specified in the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners Act.
(f) The Applicant must be a Certified Police Officer (either as a full time officer or part time officer) pursuant to the Illinois Police Training Act (50 ILCS 705/1) or be a civilian police officer certified by another jurisdiction having similar requirements as the Illinois Police Training Act.
(g) The Applicant must be of good moral character, of temperate habits, of sound health and must be physically able to perform the duties of the position.
(3) The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners may consider qualified Applicants for appointment as a lateral entry to the Police Department who successfully complete the following requirements:
(a) The Applicant must complete an application approved and furnished by the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners.
(b) The Applicant must file with the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners or its designee the completed Application with all necessary documents.
(c) The Applicant must provide any required Releases and must pass an in-depth background investigation.
(d) The Applicant must pass an oral interview with the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners.
(e) The Applicant must pass a psychological evaluation.
(f) The Applicant must pass a physical examination and pass a drug test.
(g) The Applicant must comply with all requirements for the position of Police Officer and have the ability to pass all State of Illinois and/or local examination and training requirements.
(Prior Code, Art. 8, § 8.1)