LAFAYETTE MUNICIPAL FIRE AND POLICE CIVIL SERVICE

The primary goal of the civil service system is the effective application of personnel activity based on a system of merit, efficiency, and length of service.  Civil Service accomplishes this goal in two major ways.  First, it provides individual employees with a sense of job security through the application of three principles:

• Procedures for qualifying personnel by objective selection.
• Classification and description of each job and position according to the actual duties performed and responsibilities involved.
• Appointment and promotion of personnel on the basis of examination qualifications, job performance, and departmental seniority.

Civil Service protects elected officials from unnecessary political pressure and embarrassment in matters of personnel selection.  Under this system, employees who are performing their jobs competently will not be subjected to wholesale terminations upon changes of political administrators.  Personnel selections are made on the basis of merit rather than favoritism and political patronage.  This creates a mutually beneficial system of efficient personnel management.

Additionally, the civil service system does not infringe upon the duties, authority or responsibilities entrusted to the mayor or other elected officials.  It insures that management of personnel will be conducted in such a manner that benefits the fire and police departments and provides to the community in which it functions, an atmosphere of continuity and professionalism as it relates to public safety for the citizens which are served by these departments.