§ 36-8-10-10 — Police officers; classification of ranks, grades, and positions; appointments

Indiana § 36-8-10-10

• Jurisdiction: Indiana
• Title 36: LOCAL GOVERNMENT
• Art. 8: PUBLIC SAFETY
• Ch. 10: Sheriff's Department; Merit Board; Pensions

Text

(a) Except for the position of chief deputy,
the position of prison matron, and in a county with a population of
more than fifty thousand (50,000), temporary administrative ranks or
positions established and appointed by the sheriff, the sheriff, with the
approval of the board, shall establish a classification of ranks, grades,
and positions for county police officers in the department. For each
rank, grade, and position established, the sheriff, with the approval of
the board, shall:
(1) set reasonable standards of qualifications; and
(2) fix the prerequisites of:
(A) training;
(B) education; and
(C) experience.
(b) The sheriff, with the approval of the board, shall devise and
administer examinations designed to test applicants for the
qualifications required for the respective ranks, grades, or positions.
After these examinations, the sheriff and the board shall jointly prepare
a list naming only those applicants who, in the opinion of both the
sheriff and the board, best meet the prescribed standards and
prerequisites. The sheriff appoints county police officers but only from
among the persons whose names appear on this list. All county police
officers appointed to the department under this chapter are on
probation for a period of one (1) year from the date of appointment.
(c) In a county with a population of more than fifty thousand
(50,000), the sheriff may:
(1) establish a temporary administrative rank or position within
the county police department; and
(2) appoint a county police officer that has served as a county
police officer for at least five (5) years to and remove a county
police officer from a temporary administrative rank or position;
without the approval of the board. Any temporary administrative rank
or position established pursuant to this section shall not diminish or
reduce the number and classifications of the existing merit ranks within
the county police department. A county police officer appointed under
this subsection must have served as a county police officer in the
county police department for at least five (5) years before the
appointment. A county police officer retains the rank, grade, or position
awarded under subsection (b) while serving in a temporary
administrative rank or position. This subsection may not be construed
to limit, modify, annul, or otherwise affect a collective bargaining
agreement.
(d) In a county with a population of more than fifty thousand
(50,000), the sheriff, with the approval of the board, shall establish
written rules and regulations governing the discipline of county police
officers. Rules and regulations established by a sheriff under this
subsection must conform to the disciplinary procedure required by
section 11 of this chapter.
[Pre-Local Government Recodification Citation:
17-3-14-6.]
As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.61. Amended by
P.L.131-1983, SEC.14; P.L.314-1989, SEC.1; P.L.237-1996, SEC.3;
P.L.270-1999, SEC.1; P.L.14-2000, SEC.83.