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95.440 Police and fire department members -- Qualifications -- Examination -- Tenure -- Reinstatement.

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95.440 Police and fire department members -- Qualifications -- Examination -- Tenure -- Reinstatement. (1) The legislative body in cities of the second and third classes and urban-county governments shall require all applicants for appointments as members of the police <br>or fire departments to be examined as to their qualifications for office, including <br>their knowledge of the English language and the law and rules governing the duties <br>of the position applied for. (2) Each member of the police or fire department in cities of the second and third classes and urban-county governments shall be able to read, write and understand <br>the English language, and have such other qualifications as may be prescribed. No <br>person shall be appointed a member of the police or fire department unless he is a <br>person of sobriety and integrity and is and has been an orderly, law-abiding citizen. <br>In a city of the second class or urban-county government no person shall be <br>appointed a member of either of such departments if he is over fifty (50) years of <br>age. (3) Members of the police and fire departments in cities of the second and third classes or urban-county governments qualified under this section shall hold their positions <br>during good behavior, except that the legislative body may decrease the number of <br>policemen or firefighters as it may deem proper. (4) If the legislative body of a city of the second or third class or urban-county government decreases the number of policemen or firefighters, the youngest <br>members in point of service shall be the first to be released and returned to the <br>eligible list of the department, there to advance according to the rules of the <br>department. (5) The legislative body in an urban-county government may by ordinance provide that any person who has successfully completed his probationary period and <br>subsequently ceased working for the police or fire department for reasons other than <br>dismissal may be restored to the position, rank and pay he formerly held or to an <br>equivalent or lower position, rank or pay than that which he formerly held if he so <br>requests in writing to the appointing authority. Such person shall be eligible for <br>reinstatement for a period of one (1) year following his separation from the police or <br>fire department and shall be reinstated only with the approval of the appointing <br>authority. Effective: July 19, 1985 <br>History: Amended 1985 (1st Extra. Sess.) Ky. Acts ch. 4, sec. 1, effective July 19, 1985. -- Amended 1980 Ky. Acts ch. 171, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1980. -- Amended <br>1978 Ky. Acts ch. 164, sec. 22, effective June 17, 1978; and ch. 177, sec. 2, effective <br>June 17, 1978. -- Amended 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 248, sec. 5; and ch. 386, sec. 21. -- <br>Amended 1966 Ky. Acts ch. 9, sec. 1; and ch. 168, sec. 1. -- Amended 1956 Ky. Acts <br>ch. 246, sec. 13. -- Amended 1948 Ky. Acts ch. 83, sec. 1. -- Recodified 1942 Ky. <br>Acts ch. 208, sec. 1, effective October 1, 1942, from Ky. Stat. secs. 3138-1, 3138-3, <br>3141, 3235dd-35, 3351a-2.