1028                             LAWS OF MARYLAND                         CH. 547

appropriation made for such purpose, appoint such employees as are
deemed necessary by him for the efficient administration of the De-
partment. All appointments shall be made from a list of eligible
persons prepared by the Commissioner of Personnel in accordance
with the Merit System.

(b) Qualifications. No person shall be appointed to the Depart-
ment unless he is a bona fide resident of the State of Maryland on
the date of his appointment and possesses the character, educational,
and other qualifications established by the Superintendent pursuant
to Section 15. An employee who has been discharged from the De-
partment is not qualified for reappointment. A police employee who
has resigned from, the Department for any reason other than entry
into the military service is not qualified for reappointment; but the
Superintendent may prescribe by rule for the reappointment, to a

rank not higher than the next lowest noncommissioned rank, of a

police employee who resigned in good standing if such person meets
the requirements then prescribed for initial appointment. EXCEPT
THE SUPERINTENDENT MAY PRESCRIBE BY RULE FOR
THE REAPPOINTMENT OF A POLICE EMPLOYEE WHO RE-
SIGNED IN GOOD STANDING IF SUCH PERSON MEETS THE
REQUIREMENTS THEN PRESCRIBED FOR INITIAL AP-
POINTMENT. UNDER NO CONDITIONS SHALL ONE BE RE-
APPOINTED TO A RANK HIGHER THAN HE PREVIOUSLY
HELD.

18.    Probationary status.

All police employees, including persons appointed to the Depart-
ment for training prior to regular assignment as a police employee,
shall remain in a probationary status for a period of two years from
the date of appointment to the Department. Civilian employees shall
remain in a probationary status for the period prescribed by the
Merit System. The Superintendent may discharge an employee in
probationary status for any cause which he, in his sole discretion,
deems sufficient.

19.    Promotion.

(a)  Generally. All promotions shall be made by the Superin-
tendent.

(b)  Police employees. No police employee shall be appointed, or
promoted to any rank, except one which requires technical knowl-
edge, unless he shall have filled the rank immediately below that to
which he is promoted; but as to any noncommissioned rank which
contains less than twenty-five police employees, the Superintendent
may by rule direct that it is unnecessary to fill such rank for pur-
poses of promotion. Promotion to any noncommissioned rank shall
be made in the manner prescribed by rule. Promotion to any com-
missioned rank, except Deputy Superintendent, shall be made from
among those persons appearing in any position on a list of eligible
persons prepared by the State Commissioner of Personnel in accord-
ance with the Merit System.

(c)  Civilian employees. Promotions of civilian employees shall
be made in the manner provided by the Merit System.