§ 33:2481.7 — Chief of operations; competitive appointment

Louisiana § 33:2481.7

• Jurisdiction: Louisiana
• Title 33: Municipalities and Parishes

Text

§2481.7. Chief of operations; competitive appointment
A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the governing
authority may create, by ordinance or resolution, the position of chief of operations in
accordance with the provisions of this Section. The position shall be filled on a competitive
basis from a list of eligibles as provided for in R.S. 33:2491, and the right of selection,
appointment, supervision, and discharge for such position shall be vested in the fire chief,
subject to approval of the appointing authority. In addition, the governing authority shall
establish the job description, duties, requirements, and responsibilities of the chief of
operations in the ordinance or resolution creating the position. Such duties and
responsibilities may include direct supervision over all positions in the classified service
below the rank of fire chief.
B.(1) The chief of operations shall have not less than twenty-five years of service in
fire suppression and not less than one year of service as a confirmed battalion or district
chief.
(2) Any person who holds the position of chief of operations may, while holding
such position, apply for admission to the promotional examination for the class next higher
than that from which he was appointed as chief of operations. However, the name and score
of any chief of operations shall not be certified to the appointing authority by the civil service
board as eligible for appointment to a position of the promotional class, and his name and
score shall be eligible for certification, in accordance with the maximum period for which
a name may remain on the eligibility list in accordance with the provisions of this Part, only
upon demotion to a position of the class from which he was appointed as chief of operations.
(3) Eligibility for admission to the competitive test for chief of operations shall be
limited to members of the same department as the fire chief.
C.(1) Any person appointed to serve as chief of operations shall not forfeit his
departmental seniority accumulated to the date of his appointment, and he shall continue to
accumulate departmental seniority in accordance with the provisions of this Part during the
time he holds the position of chief of operations.
(2) If any such person is demoted or otherwise vacates the position on the approval
of the fire chief, he shall be demoted to a position in the class he held immediately preceding
his appointment as chief of operations. If a chief of operations is subjected to corrective or
disciplinary action, he shall have the same rights as any other employee in the municipal fire
and police civil service.

Legislative History

Acts 2025, No. 245, §1.