{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-95.762","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 95.762","heading":"Examination and qualifications of applicants for police and fire","body":"departments -- Political discrimination forbidden -- Guarantee of tenure --\nDecrease of personnel.\n(1) The commission shall require all applicants for appointments as members o f the\npolice or fire departments to be examined as to their qualifications to fill the office\nof policeman or firefighter, and as to their knowledge of the English language, and\nas to the law and rules governing the duties of policemen and firefighters. Ev ery\nmember of the police or fire department shall be able to read and write and\nunderstand the English language, and have such other general qualifications as may\nbe prescribed.\n(2) No person shall be appointed a member of the police or fire departments un less he\nis well known to be a person of sobriety and integrity, and has been and is an\norderly, law-abiding citizen, nor shall any person be appointed as a member of said\npolice or fire departments on account of any political, partisan service rendered by\nhim or on account of political sentiments or affiliations. No member of the police or\nfire departments shall be removed or discharged or reduced in grade or pay for any\npolitical partisan opinion. The appointment and continuance upon the police and\nfire departments shall depend solely upon the ability and willingness of a person to\ncomply with the rules of the said departments and to perform the duties of said\ndepartments. No appointment to or continuance as a member of a police or fire\ndepartment shall be as a reward for political activity nor be obtained by political\nservices or contributions to campaign funds.\n(3) The examination and qualifications provided for in this section shall not apply to\nthe members of the regular police and fire departments at th is time, who have been\ncontinuously in the service for a period of three (3) years.\n(4) Members of police and fire departments otherwise qualified under this law shall\nhold their positions during good behavior, provided, however, that the provisions of\nKRS 95.761 to 95.784 shall not prevent the said city legislative body from\nincreasing or decreasing the number of policemen or firefighters, as may be deemed\nproper from time to time, and provided further, that in the event the said city\nlegislative body decr eases the number of policemen or firefighters, the youngest\nmember in point of service shall be the first to be reduced and returned to the\neligible list and to advance according to the rules and regulations of said\ndepartment.\n(5) The civil service commis sion may provide that appointments for initial permanent\nemployment may be probationary appointments for a period of not more than\ntwelve (12) months, after which probationary period regular appointments shall be\ngiven to all probationary employees who are  deemed to be satisfactory by the\nrespective appointing authority.","path":["KRS Chapter 95"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=53051","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:49:55Z","sha256":"8aec20cff3bd46542c1c2c0385bfc45f5915f1ad329f99f81d9278bc39b7208a","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-95.761","next":"us-ky/krs-95.763"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}