(A) For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ACTIVE DUTY. The time while a firefighter is actively engaged in the performance of the duties of a firefighter. A firefighter who is retired, retired on disability pension, or on leave of absence shall not be construed to be on active duty.
BASE PAY. The annual compensation paid to the firefighters as determined annually by the City Council, and the monthly base pay shall be the amount of the compensation divided by 12.
FIREFIGHTER. All types of firefighters employed by the city, or to be employed by the city, whether the firefighter is the Chief, Deputy Chief, Assistant Chief, Captain or other type or classification created by the City Council, but does not include volunteer or part-time firefighters.
YEARS OF SATISFACTORY SERVICE. Years of continuous, uninterrupted active duty as a fireman of the city, except as provided in division (E) below.
(‘89 Code, § 16.01)
(B) For a period of one calendar year from the date of his or her employment as a firefighter, the firefighter shall be considered on probation. In the event that the status of Second Class Firefighter, as defined in the State Commission on Fire Fighting Standards and Education, has not been obtained during the firefighters’s probationary period, the firefighter may be dismissed from the Fire Department without recourse.
(‘89 Code, § 16.02)
(C) Upon completion of one year of satisfactory service, as defined in division (A) above and as a firefighter, and while on active duty as defined in division (A) above, the firefighter shall be classified as a first class firefighter.
(‘89 Code, § 16.03)
(D) Firefighters holding rank superior to that of first class firefighter shall receive additional compensation based upon their rank over and above the base pay, and over and above that as provided by their classification based upon years of service as defined in division (A) above.
(‘89 Code, § 16.04)
(E) The Board of Public Works and Safety shall have the right, upon application timely made by a firefighter and for good cause, to grant a leave of absence for a period of time as determined by the Board of Public Works and Safety. A firefighter shall not lose his previously accumulated years of satisfactory service while on leave of absence. However, the time during which the firefighter is on leave of absence shall not be included in determining the total number of years of satisfactory service.
(‘89 Code, § 16.05)
(F) For the purpose of simplifying the determination of classification subsequent to the expiration of the 12 month probationary period, the employment date of a firefighter employed after March 31 and before September 30 of any given year shall be considered to be July 1 of the same year, and the employment date of a firefighter or police officer employed after September 30 and before March 31 of the next year shall be considered to be the January 1st which falls between those dates.
(‘89 Code, § 16.06)
(G) There shall be a Firefighter’s Pension Board of Trustees to perform certain duties prescribed under I.C. 36-8-6-1 et seq. and I.C. 36-8-8-1 et seq.
(‘89 Code, § 10.05)