No person employed in the Police Department who has successfully completed the applicable period of probation shall be removed, demoted or discharged, except for cause, upon written charges, and after an opportunity to be heard in his own defense. Pending the hearing of such charges against members of the Department, with the exception of the Chief of Police, the Chief of Police may suspend the person so accused; but suspension in any case shall not be valid for more than thirty days upon any charge unless the hearing thereon shall be delayed beyond such time by the act of the person so accused. A copy of such charges shall be filed with the Chief of Police or designee.

A corrective copy of such charges shall be served upon the accused, who shall within ten (10) days after such service, file a written answer thereto. Failure to answer said charges within ten (10) days time shall be held to be an admission of the charges by the accused and a waiver of hearing; whereupon, the Civil Service Commission shall find the accused guilty as charged and he shall be removed and discharged from the Department as of the date of his suspension by the Chief of Police or designee.

If the accused shall answer said charges within the allotted time, he shall be given five (5) days notice of the time and place of hearing of said charges. The accused, at the hearing of such charges, which may be private or public at the option of the accused, shall have the right to be represented by counsel, to submit evidence in his behalf, and to compel the attendance of such witnesses as he may desire to testify in his behalf. A public hearing is waived unless demanded by the accused in his written answer.

The order or decision of the Civil Service Commission upon such hearing shall be final and shall forthwith be enforced by the Chief of Police or designee. (Amended June 2, 1992: amended November 8, 1988: amended March 9, 1948)