§ 36-8-3.5-12 — Department members; appointment; qualifications; application; general aptitude test; ratings; eligibility list; vacancies; physical agility test; probation

Indiana § 36-8-3.5-12

• Jurisdiction: Indiana
• Title 36: LOCAL GOVERNMENT
• Art. 8: PUBLIC SAFETY
• Ch. 3.5: Police and Fire Merit Systems

Text

(a) Subject to IC 36-8-4.7, to be appointed
to the department, an applicant must be:
(1) a citizen of the United States;
(2) a high school graduate or equivalent; and
(3) at least twenty-one (21) years of age, but under forty (40)
years of age.
However, the age requirements do not apply to a person who has been
previously employed as a member of the department.
(b) A person may not be appointed, reappointed, or reinstated if the
person has a felony conviction on the person's record.
(c) Applications for appointment or reappointment to the
department must be filed with the commission. The applicant must
produce satisfactory proof of the date and place of the applicant's birth.
(d) Applicants for appointment or reappointment to the department
must pass the general aptitude test required under IC 36-8-3.2-3 or IC 36-8-3.2-3.5. The general aptitude test shall:
(1) reflect the essential functions of the job;
(2) be conducted according to procedures adopted by the
commission; and
(3) be administered in a manner that reasonably accommodates
the needs of applicants with a disability.
The results of the general aptitude test shall be filed with the
commission. If the commission finds that the applicant lacks the proper
qualifications, it shall reject the applicant.
(e) The applicants shall then be rated on the selection criteria and
testing methods adopted by the commission, which may include mental
alertness, character, habits, and reputation. The commission shall adopt
rules for grading the applicants, including the establishment of a
passing score. The commission shall place the names of applicants with
passing scores on an eligibility list by the order of their scores and shall
certify the list to the safety board.
(f) This subsection is subject to IC 36-8-4.7. If an applicant reaches
the applicant's fortieth birthday, the applicant's name shall be removed
from the eligibility list. Applicants remain on the list for two (2) years
from the date of certification. After two (2) years a person may reapply
as an applicant.
(g) When a vacancy occurs in the department, the commission, upon
a written request of the chief of the department, shall administer the
physical agility test under IC 36-8-3.2-3 or IC 36-8-3.2-3.5 to the
applicant having the highest score on the eligibility list. If the
appointed applicant successfully completes the physical agility test, the
applicant shall then be enrolled as a member of the department to fill
the vacancy if:
(1) the applicant is still of good character; and
(2) the applicant passes the required examinations identified in IC 36-8-3.2-6 and IC 36-8-8-19.
(h) All appointments are probationary for a period not to exceed one
(1) year. If the commission finds, upon the recommendation of the
department during the probationary period, that the conduct or capacity
of the probationary member is not satisfactory, the commission shall
notify the member in writing that the member:
(1) is being reprimanded;
(2) is being suspended; or
(3) will not receive a permanent appointment.
If a member is notified that the member will not receive a permanent
appointment, the member's employment immediately ceases.
Otherwise, at the expiration of the probationary period the member is
considered regularly employed.
[Local Government Recodification Citation: New.]
As added by Acts 1981, P.L.316, SEC.1. Amended by
P.L.4-1992, SEC.30; P.L.99-2007, SEC.214; P.L.115-2016, SEC.1;
P.L.127-2017, SEC.230; P.L.103-2021, SEC.2; P.L.102-2023,
SEC.2.