19-4476. Law enforcement officers; appointment; qualifications; civil service or job classification and merit system; transfer of sheriff, deputies and police officers to department; suspension or removal. Subject to the requirements of this section the board shall authorize by resolution the appointment of such number of law enforcement officers and the employment of other personnel as it deems necessary for proper police protection and proper enforcement of law within the county. No officers employed shall be a member of the board. All officers regularly appointed shall be qualified under the provision of K.S.A. 74-5601 et seq. and any acts amendatory thereof or supplemental thereto, but an officer may receive a temporary appointment for a period not to exceed one (1) year pending his completion of the requirements for such certificate set forth in such statutes. The board shall determine and fix such additional minimum qualifications for persons appointed as law enforcement officers as it may deem necessary for those officers not previously transferred from the county or cities therein, and shall establish a civil service or job classification and merit rating system for law enforcement officers and shall adopt a schedule of salaries for the classifications so established. Such board shall provide for the examination of applicants and the administration of such civil service or merit rating system for law enforcement officers and shall adopt a schedule of salaries for the classifications so established. Such board shall provide for the examination of applicants and the administration of such civil service or merit rating system by a commission appointed for such purpose in the manner hereinafter provided. The sheriff, full-time deputies of the sheriff, chiefs of police and full-time police officers of cities located within such county holding law enforcement training certificates, or holding temporary appointments pending their completion of the requirements for such certificates, are authorized to transfer to such department. All full-time employees of the sheriff, and full-time employees of the police departments in said cities whose work assignments are in areas transferred to such agency under K.S.A. 19-4477, who are not on probationary status, are authorized to transfer to such department. Law enforcement officers appointed under the provisions of this act and other personnel employed under the provisions of this act shall be appointed by the director. Officers and employees not having completed a period of probation may be suspended or removed by the director for cause only.

History: L. 1974, ch. 130, § 9; March 26.