The following criteria shall be used in all promotional appointments to the City Police Department, other than the position of Chief of Police. No positions above the rank of patrolman in the Police Department shall be filled by original appointment. Vacancies in positions above the rank of patrolman in the Police Department shall be filled by promotion from among persons holding positions in a rank lower than the position to be filled. No position above the rank of patrolman in the Police Department shall be filled by any person unless he or she has first passed a competitive promotional examination. Promotion shall be by successive ranks so far as practicable, and no person in the Police Department shall be promoted to a position in a higher rank who has not served at least twelve months in the next lower rank. No competitive promotional examination shall be held unless there are at least two persons eligible to compete. Whenever the Civil Service Commission determines that there are less than two persons holding positions in the rank next lower than the position to be filled, who are eligible and willing to compete, such Commission shall allow the persons holding positions in the next lower rank who are eligible, to complete with the persons holding positions in the rank lower than the position to be filled. An increase in the salary or other compensation of anyone holding a position in the Police Department beyond that fixed for the rank in which such position is classified, shall be deemed a promotion, except as provided in Ohio R.C. 124.491. Whenever a vacancy occurs in a position above the rank of patrolman in the Police Department, and there is no eligible list for such rank, the Civil Service Commission shall, within sixty days of such vacancy, hold a competitive promotional examination. After such examination has been held and an eligible list established, the Commission shall forthwith certify to the Department of Safety or other appointing officer as provided for in Section 8.05 of the Charter of the City, the three persons having the highest rating; or if there are only two persons having taken the promotional examination then those two persons shall be certified to the appointing authority. Upon such certification, the appointing authority may appoint one of the persons so certified within thirty days from the date of such certification. (Ord. 219-9. Passed 5-6-96.)