Sec. 10. (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.