The Commissioners shall provide for promotion in the Department on the basis of ascertained merit. All examination for promotion shall be competitive, as established by the Commissioners. The Commissioners shall submit to the appointing power the names of not exceeding three applicants having the highest rating for each promotion.

No member of the Police Department shall be eligible for promotion to any position other than that of Chief of Police until he shall have had three years of experience as a regular paid peace officer, one year of which must have been served in the Bakersfield Police Department immediately preceding the date of his promotion. (Amended November 8, 2022)