Except as provided in this chapter, the city adopts a civil service system as set forth in Chapter 41.12 RCW (Laws of 1937, Chapter 13) for the police department of the city, and all full-time paid employees therein, and all advancements, demotions, suspensions, discharges or control thereof, and of the members thereof, shall be under the control of and governed by civil service rules prescribed in or adopted pursuant to Chapter 41.12 RCW as if the same may have been heretofore or may be hereafter amended. (Ord. 76-15 § 1, 1976)

The provisions of this chapter shall be applicable to all full-time employees of the police department employed by the city after the effective date of Ordinance No. 76-15, except for the following:

A. The position of police chief shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter; and

B. Pursuant to RCW 41.12.050, the police chief shall be entitled to designate a certain number of additional positions, to be known as the unclassified service, as exempt from the provisions of this chapter. In designating such positions as exempt, the police chief shall follow the procedures set forth in RCW 41.12.050. (Ord. 2013-11 § 1, 2013: Ord. 76-15 § 3, 1976)

There is created for the administration of such civil service for the police department a civil service commission composed of five members who shall be appointed by the city manager of the city. A person shall be considered eligible for appointment to the commission if he or she is a citizen of the United States, a resident of the city, and an elector of Kitsap County. The term of office of such civil service commission shall be four years, except that the first five members of the commission shall be appointed for different terms, as follows: three to serve for a period of four years and two to serve for a period of two years. The existing civil service commission shall be dissolved, and all positions on the commission created by the ordinance codified in this section shall be deemed vacant. In the event any civil service commissioner resigns or becomes disqualified or is removed for cause under a process adopted by city council resolution, another commissioner shall be appointed to take his place for the unexpired portion of the term. (Ord. 2013-08 § 1, 2013: Ord. 2011-20 § 1, 2011: Ord. 76-15 § 2, 1976)

The commission shall organize itself, hold meetings, adopt rules and regulations, and perform the duties and exercise the powers of the commission in accordance with the provisions of state law. (Ord. 76-15 § 4, 1976)

All applicants for employment with, advancement in, or the filling of a vacancy in any position in the police department of the city covered by civil service shall be required to have specified qualifications, have tenure of office, and be subject to removal, as provided in the civil service regulations adopted by the commission consistent with the law of the state, except that in the filling of vacant promotional positions in the department, the commission shall certify to the appointing power the names of the three persons highest on the eligible list for the class (or the list held appropriate for such class) to which the vacant position has been allocated, or willing to accept employment, and in the employment and filling of all other vacant positions, the commission shall certify to the appointing power the names of the five persons highest on the eligible list for the class (or the list held appropriate for such class) to which the vacant position has been allocated, or willing to accept employment. The appointing power shall select one of the persons so certified to be appointed to the available position. (Ord. 2024-14 § 1, 2024; Ord. 2013-11 § 1, 2013: Ord. 76-15 § 5, 1976)

All appointments to positions in the police department covered by civil service shall be made by the chief of police but only with the concurrence of the city manager of the city. (Ord. 2013-11 § 1, 2013: Ord. 2009-21 § 10, 2009: Ord. 76-15 § 6, 1976)

To the extent consistent with city code, any rules and regulations adopted by the existing civil service commission are deemed in full force and effect until amended or repealed by the civil service commission created by the ordinance codified in this section. (Ord. 2011-20 § 2, 2011: Ord. 76-15 § 7, 1976)

The city manager shall designate a member of the paid staff of the city acceptable to the civil service commission to serve as the secretary-chief examiner of the commission and any person designated shall serve without additional compensation above the compensation provided for the position held with the city. Nothing in this section shall require hiring under civil service procedures to fill this position or extending civil service protection to the person so designated.

The duties of the secretary-chief examiner shall be to keep the records for the commission, preserve all reports made to it, superintend and keep a record of all examinations held under its direction, and perform such other duties as the commission may prescribe. The commission shall consult with the city manager regarding the secretary-chief examiner’s work schedule. (Ord. 2011-22 § 1, 2011)