[Adopted 3-24-1993 by Ord. No. 6-1993]
The Mayor of the City of Linwood, in accordance
with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118, shall appoint the Chief of Police and such
other officers as may be required, subject to the confirmation of
said appointments by the City Council. In accordance with its obligation
to have appointments based upon merit and fitness, the Council of
the City will confirm only those officers who have successfully taken
and completed a promotional examination as herein set forth.
A.
Examinations will be conducted for all promotions
to the rank of Sergeant and above.
B.
Only those officers deemed eligible by these procedures will be permitted to take part in the promotional examinations. (See § 56-16 for eligibility.)
C.
All promotional examinations will consist of all the elements as outlined in § 56-17 of these procedures.
D.
Administration of these procedures will be in conformance with the guidelines outlined herein and in accordance with specific test rules as outlined in § 56-18.
E.
Officers who suffer from a demotion in rank for just
cause other than for budgetary reasons shall not be permitted to take
a promotional examination for a period of three years beginning when
the demotion takes effect. Any officer so demoted for disciplinary
reasons, upon repromotion, shall not retain any seniority rights owing
to that rank.
F.
All qualified officers will be considered for all
promotions for which they are eligible, without regard to race, color,
religion, sex, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, politics
or personal favoritism, except as may be properly permitted by law.
G.
The written and oral examinations (Sergeant) or oral examinations (Lieutenant, Captain and Chief) for each rank will be conducted by the Examination Committee as provided for in § 56-18 of these procedures.
[Amended 10-26-2016 by Ord. No. 6-2016]
H.
In the event that the position to be filled is that
of Chief of Police, then the Mayor, along with a Council representative,
will act jointly to conduct all tests and interviews, with the final
appointment and promotion to be made by the Mayor with confirmation
by City Council.
To qualify to sit for the promotional examination,
one must comply with the following eligibility requirements:
A.
To sit for the Sergeant's examination, a candidate
shall:
(1)
Have served as a patrolman of the Linwood City Police
Department.
(2)
Be a present member of the Linwood City Police Department.
(3)
Have served as a full-time member of the Linwood City
Police Department for at least three years continuously next preceding
the examination date.
(4)
As an individual applicant, not have any more than
three suspensions for the three years immediately preceding the date
of the promotional examination.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection A(5), regarding
physical and psychological exam requirements, which immediately followed
this subsection, was repealed 6-15-1994 by Ord. No. 6-1994.
B.
To be eligible to sit for examination for rank of
Lieutenant the candidate shall:
[Amended 10-26-2016 by Ord. No. 6-2016]
(1)
Have served as a patrolman in the Linwood City Police
Department.
(2)
Be a present member of the Linwood City Police Department.
(3)
Have served as a full-time member of the Linwood City
Police Department for at least five years continuously next preceding
the examination date.
(4)
Have held the rank of Sergeant in the Linwood City Police Department
for at least three years, including acting and permanent time, which
must be continuous and uninterrupted, next preceding the date of the
examination.
(5)
As an individual applicant, not have any more than
three suspensions for the three years immediately preceding the date
of the promotional examination.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection B(6), regarding
physical and psychological exam requirements, which immediately followed
this subsection, was repealed 6-15-1994 by Ord. No. 6-1994.
C.
To be eligible to sit for the examination for rank of Captain the
candidate shall:
[Added 10-26-2016 by Ord.
No. 6-2016]
(1)
Have served as a patrolman in the Linwood City Police Department.
(2)
Be a present member of the Linwood City Police Department.
(3)
Have served as a full-time member of the Linwood City Police Department
for at least five years continuously next preceding the examination
date.
(4)
Have held the rank of Lieutenant in the Linwood City Police Department
for at least three years, including acting and permanent time, which
must be continuous and uninterrupted, next preceding the date of the
examination.
(5)
As an individual applicant, not have any more than three suspensions
for the three years immediately preceding the date of the promotional
examination.
D.
To be eligible to sit for the examination for rank of Chief the candidate
shall:
[Added 10-26-2016 by Ord.
No. 6-2016]
(1)
Have served as a patrolman in the Linwood City Police Department.
(2)
Be a present member of the Linwood City Police Department.
(3)
Have served as a full-time member of the Linwood City Police Department
for at least five years continuously next preceding the examination
date.
(4)
Have held the rank of Lieutenant in the Linwood City Police Department.
[Amended 9-9-2021 by Ord.
No. 17-2021]
(5)
As an individual applicant, not have any more than three suspensions
for the three years immediately preceding the date of the promotional
examination.
[Amended 10-26-2016 by Ord. No. 6-2016]
Once determined to be eligible for promotion, the following
criteria will be utilized by the City to determine which officer will
be promoted. A maximum score of 100 points will be possible. All tests
and point allocation shall be prepared and administered in accordance
with the guidelines as set forth herein. The City reserves the right
to choose one of the top three scoring candidates.
A.
Rank of Sergeant.
(1)
Written test.
(a)
The written test shall consist of law enforcement material related
to the rank being tested for as determined by the Examination Committee.
Each officer taking the written examination must be given the exact
same test.
(b)
A maximum of 20 points shall be allocated according to the following
schedule:
|
Score
|
Number of Points
|
|---|---|
|
95 to 100
|
20
|
|
90 to 94
|
17
|
|
85 to 89
|
14
|
|
80 to 84
|
11
|
|
75 to 79
|
8
|
|
70 to 74
|
5
|
|
Below
|
0
|
(2)
Oral test.
(a)
The oral test shall consist of 10 questions prepared by the
Examination Committee just prior to the time of the test. Questions
must be related to the law enforcement profession and for the rank
being tested for as determined by the Examination Committee. Each
officer taking the oral examination must be asked exactly the same
questions.
(b)
A maximum of 20 points shall be allocated according to the following
schedule:
|
Score
|
Number of Points
|
|---|---|
|
95 to 100
|
20
|
|
90 to 94
|
17
|
|
85 to 89
|
14
|
|
80 to 84
|
11
|
|
75 to 79
|
8
|
|
70 to 74
|
5
|
|
Below
|
0
|
(3)
Job performance.
(b)
A total of 20 points to be allocated for job performance may
range from zero to 20 points. The evaluators, as explained in this
section, are not bound to the following breakdown, but, rather, this
is presented merely as a guide:
|
Evaluation
|
Number of Points
|
|---|---|
|
Excellent
|
20
|
|
Good
|
15
|
|
Fair
|
10
|
|
Needs improvement
|
5
|
|
Poor
|
0
|
(5)
College achievement. For obtaining the advantages of a higher education
from an accelerated college or university, a maximum of 10 points
shall be allocated, according to the following schedule:
|
Number of Credited Hours/Degree
|
Number of Points
| |
|---|---|---|
|
32
|
2
| |
|
64/Associate's
|
4
| |
|
96
|
6
| |
|
128/Bachelor's
|
8
| |
|
160/Master's
|
10
|
B.
Rank of Lieutenant, Captain and Chief.
(1)
Oral test.
(a)
The oral test shall consist of 10 questions prepared by the
Examination Committee just prior to the time of the test. Questions
must be related to the law enforcement profession and for the rank
being tested for as determined by the Examination Committee. Each
officer taking the oral examination must be asked exactly the same
questions.
(b)
A maximum of 30 points shall be allocated according to the following
schedule:
|
Score
|
Number of Points
| |
|---|---|---|
|
95 to 100
|
30
| |
|
90 to 94
|
25
| |
|
85 to 89
|
20
| |
|
80 to 84
|
15
| |
|
75 to 79
|
10
| |
|
70 to 74
|
5
| |
|
Below
|
0
|
(2)
Job performance.
(b)
A total of 30 points to be allocated for job performance may
range from zero to 30 points. The evaluators, as explained in this
section, are not bound to the following breakdown, but, rather, this
is presented merely as a guide:
|
Evaluation
|
Number of Points
| |
|---|---|---|
|
Excellent
|
30
| |
|
Good
|
25
| |
|
Fair
|
20
| |
|
Needs improvement
|
10
| |
|
Poor
|
0
|
(4)
College achievement. For obtaining the advantages of a higher education
from an accelerated college or university, a maximum of 10 points
shall be allocated, according to the following schedule:
|
Number of Credited Hours/Degree
|
Number of Points
| |
|---|---|---|
|
32
|
2
| |
|
64/Associate's
|
4
| |
|
96
|
6
| |
|
128/Bachelor's
|
8
| |
|
160/Master's
|
10
|
All tests shall be conducted in accordance with
the following rules and regulations:
A.
Promotion tests will be conducted on weekdays between
the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., preferably at a municipally
owned building.
B.
A notice of the test must be posted on the Police
Department bulletin board for at least 30 days prior to the test date.
C.
Any officer who is eligible and wants to take the
test must notify the Chief and Mayor in writing at least seven days
prior to the date of the test.
D.
Any officer scheduled to take a promotional test may
be excused from duty for 24 hours prior to the time of the test without
pay or compensatory time.
E.
All employees who take the test will be allowed to
see their own tests and the grades received after the official results
are announced and posted and within 14 days of such posting.
F.
Job performance evaluations will be completed by the
Chief. Evaluations will be compiled on the supervisory rating form
designed for evaluating police officers in determining point allocation.
The Chief will base his evaluations of officers by generally acceptable
police standards and comparison among other officers taking the promotional
examination. Standardly accepted evaluation techniques, i.e., ranking,
paired comparisons, etc., shall be used in evaluating officers.
G.
The written and/or oral test will be given by the South Jersey Police
Chiefs Association Examination Committee. If for some reason the South
Jersey Police Chiefs Association cannot conduct the test, an impartial
Examination Committee may be agreed upon by the Mainland PBA Local
No. 77 and the City of Linwood to conduct the testing. It is the full
responsibility of the Examination Committee to determine the content
and confidentiality of the examination with the guidelines as provided
for by these procedures.
[Amended 10-26-2016 by Ord. No. 6-2016]
H.
At least two Chiefs or examiners will be required to administer the
written and/or oral tests. No one conducting the testing may reside
or be employed in Atlantic County or have any personal knowledge of
any of the candidates taking the examinations.
[Amended 10-26-2016 by Ord. No. 6-2016]
I.
Scoring and grading of the written and/or oral test results will
be completed by the Examination Committee.
[Amended 10-26-2016 by Ord. No. 6-2016]
J.
The Examination Committee will forward the test results and the grades
received for the written and/or oral test(s) by sealed envelope to
the Chief and Mayor within five working days of the completion of
the examinations.
[Amended 10-26-2016 by Ord. No. 6-2016]
K.
The Mayor, along with the Chief and Council representative, will
take the test results which were forwarded by the Examination Committee
and compute, according to the point schedule established in these
procedures, all points earned in the written and/or oral portion(s).
They will add those points due each officer according to the schedule
for job performance, seniority and college achievement and personal
interview. The complete total of accumulated points will be the officer's
score for promotional purposes. Officers must receive a minimum score
of 50 total accumulated points to be considered for promotion.
[Amended 10-26-2016 by Ord. No. 6-2016]
L.
The Chief and Mayor shall have the responsibility
of selecting the officer to be promoted from among the three top-scoring
candidates. In the event that the Chief and Mayor cannot agree on
the selection as indicated above, then a committee consisting of the
Mayor, Chief and the three Council members of the Public Safety Committee
of Council shall make the selection of the officer to be promoted.
M.
All test results will remain effective for a period of two years.
Therefore, if any additional promotions are made within that two-year
period of time, said promotions shall be made from the next top three
individuals on the promotional list.
[Added 6-15-1994 by Ord.
No. 6-1994; amended 10-26-2016 by Ord. No. 6-2016]
