Sec. 16. (a) When a vacancy in rank occurs, the commission shall certify to the chief of the department the three (3) members with the highest scores on the eligibility list for that particular rank. Within six (6) months the commission, upon the recommendation of the chief, shall promote one (1) of those members to fill the vacant position.

     (b) All promotions are probationary for a period not to exceed one (1) year. At the end of the period, a probationary member’s superior shall review the member’s performance and recommend to the commission that:

(1) the promotion be made permanent; or

(2) the promotion be revoked.

     (c) The commission shall prepare a rating chart for the superior’s use in making the report. The commission shall review the report and decide what action should be taken. The probationary member is entitled to appear before the commission and be heard on any matter detrimental to the member in the report of the member’s superior. The member is also entitled to be represented by counsel or another representative of the member’s choice. If the promotion is finally revoked the member may not be returned to a rank lower than that the member held before the probationary promotion.

     (d) Actions by the commission other than making the promotion permanent may be appealed within thirty (30) days to the circuit or superior court of the county, with the unit, district, or territory being named as the sole defendant.

[Local Government Recodification Citation: New.]

As added by Acts 1981, P.L.316, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.127-2017, SEC.233; P.L.207-2023, SEC.20.