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Sec. 21-41. - Appointment—Qualifications of applicants.#
A candidate for appointment as a probationary patrol officer shall qualify as follows: (1)
The candidate shall be a citizen of the United States.
(2)
The candidate shall have attained their 18 th birthday.
(3)
The candidate shall have satisfactorily completed four years of accredited high school or the equivalent thereof.
(4)
The candidate shall be able to meet the weight standard in effect at the time of the application.
(5)
The candidate shall be in good health, organically sound and shall have no defective vision or hearing, and shall pass such tests and physical examination as may be required by the state municipal police academy.
(6)
If the candidate has served in the armed forces of the United States or a foreign country, they shall have received a discharge therefrom under honorable conditions.
(7)
The candidate shall be a person of good reputation in the community and be free from intemperate or immoral habits. They shall not have been convicted of a felony, misdemeanor or serious motor vehicle offense or have habitually consorted with criminals or persons of ill repute, or have been engaged in or connected with any illegal or illicit business.
(Code 1972, § 16-2; Ord. No. 2024-17, 10-17-24)
Sec. 21-42. - Same—Interview and evaluation.#
All applicants for appointment as probationary patrol officers shall be interviewed and evaluated by a screening board of superior officers, who shall rate all applicants and shall list them in the numerical order of standing as to their qualification for a police career. Every applicant shall be investigated by the police department to determine his background, reputation and general adaptability for police work.
(Code 1972, § 16-3)
Sec. 21-43. - Same—Testing of applicants.#
Every applicant for appointment as a probationary patrol officer shall be tested for educational background and experience in spelling, word definitions, English comprehension, arithmetic, history, geography and knowledge of current events. Every applicant shall be given intelligence and psychological tests to determine his attitudes and aptitudes for a police career.
(Code 1972, § 16-4)
Sec. 21-44. - Same—Applicants to meet current physical standards.#
Every applicant for appointment as a probationary patrol officer, prior to appointment by the town administrator, shall meet the current standards established for the medical examination and the physical fitness tests as required by the state municipal police academy.
(Code 1972, § 16-5)
Sec. 21-45. - Same—Oath.#
Upon appointment as a probationary patrol officer, every appointee shall swear the following oath:
"I, ___________, do solemnly swear to uphold the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Rhode Island, that I will execute my duties as a probationary patrol officer to the best of my ability, faithfully and impartially enforcing all laws and ordinances, zealously guarding the constitutional rights of all persons, and promptly obeying the orders of the officers appointed over me, all in accordance with the regulations of the Bristol Police Department. So help me, God."
(Code 1972, § 16-6)
Sec. 21-46. - Training.#
Persons selected as probationary patrol officers shall undergo a schedule of training for a prescribed period of time. The training schedule shall be divided in such a manner as to provide for formal instructions, on-the-job training and final testing to ascertain each candidate's abilities.
(Code 1972, § 16-7)
Sec. 21-47. - Length of probationary period; separation from force during probationary period.#
Probationary patrol officers may be separated from the police force at any time during the probationary period of one year without trial or hearing when the town administrator on the recommendation of the chief of police deems such separation to be for the good of the force.
(Code 1972, § 16-8)
Sec. 21-48. - Appointment to permanent status.#
After successful completion of the probationary period, and on the recommendation of the chief of police, the town administrator, on the recommendation of the chief of police, may appoint probationary patrol officers to permanent status in the police department. Each appointee shall re-swear the oath described in section 21-45, omitting the word "probationary" in the parentheses.
(Code 1972, § 16-9)