426                             LAWS OF MARYLAND                      [CH. 203

breadth, quality and importance of pertinent experience, the degree
of progression achieved therein, and in educational subjects related
thereto, and shall further consider evidence of demonstrated ability
to accept and successfully meet increasing responsibilities, as well
as evidence respecting excellence of character, professional reputation
and employment record; and, to assure selection of the most qualified
individual available for the office, the Governor may employ any
recognized testing agency to evaluate and make recommendations
concerning the qualifications of prospective appointees.

(b)    Said commissioner shall receive such salary as may be pro-
vided in the annual Ordinance of Estimates of Baltimore City, but
in no event less than $25,000.00 per annum.

(c)     If a person appointed Police Commissioner is a member of a
retirement or pension system of the State of Maryland or City of
Baltimore, or any other municipality within this State participating
in the Employees' Retirement System of the State of Maryland, he
shall have the right to continue as a member of such system with
all the rights, privileges and benefits which the members of such
system may have as to retirement or pension, or the payment of
pension, or other benefits, to his widow or other beneficiary, provided
he continues to pay the same rate of contribution to such retirement
system or pension fund which he was paying when he became police
commissioner. If the person appointed Police Commissioner is not
a member of such a retirement system, he may, at his option, be-
come a member of the Fire and Police Employees' Retirement System
of the City of Baltimore.

(d)    Before entering upon the duties of his office, said commis-
sioner shall take and subscribe to, before a judge of the Superior
Court of Baltimore City, or the clerk thereof, the oath or affirmation
prescribed by Section 6 of Article I of the Constitution of Maryland
and shall give bond to the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore
in such form and in such amount as may be determined thereby.

(e)     Said Commissioner shall be subject to removal by the Gov-
ernor for official misconduct, malfeasance, inefficiency or incom-
petency, including prolonged illness, in the manner provided by law
in the case of civil officers.

(f)    In case of death, resignation, retirement, removal or dis-
qualification of the Commissioner, the Governor shall appoint a suc-
cessor for the remainder of the term so vacated. THE SAID COM-

(G) THE SAID COMMISSIONER SHALL NOT BE ELIGIBLE
TO AN ELECTIVE OR APPOINTED OFFICE DURING THE
TERM FOR WHICH HE WAS APPOINTED, UNLESS HE RE-
SIGNS SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THE PRIMARY ELECTION OR
APPOINTMENT.

Acting Police Commissioner.
531.

The Police Commissioner may at any time, subject to removal by
him at his pleasure, designate some member of the department to
be acting commissioner. In case of the ABSENCE OR incapacitating
disability of the Police Commissioner within WITHOUT his having
designated an acting commissioner, the next ranking member of