1340                                          LAWS OF MARYLAND                                      Ch. 345

most qualified individual available for the office, the Mayor may
employ any recognized testing agency to evaluate and make
recommendations concerning the qualifications of prospective
appointees.

(b)  The POLICE commissioner shall receive a salary as may
be provided in the annual Ordinance of Estimates of Baltimore
City, but in no event less than $25,000 per [annum] YEAR.

(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] THAT PERSON has the right to continue as a member
of the system with all the rights, privileges and benefits which
the members of the system have as to retirement or pension, or
the payment of A pension, or other benefits, to [his] THAT
PERSON'S widow, WIDOWER, or other beneficiary, provided he OR SHE
continues to pay the same rate of contribution to the retirement
system or pension fund which [he] THE INDIVIDUAL was paying when
[he] THE INDIVIDUAL became police commissioner. If the person
appointed police commissioner is not a member of a retirement
system, [he] THAT PERSON may, at his OR HER option, become a
member of the Fire and Police Employees' Retirement System of the
City of Baltimore.

(d)  Before entering upon the duties of [his] THE POLICE
COMMISSIONER'S office, the commissioner shall take and subscribe
to, before a judge of the [Superior Court of] CIRCUIT COURT FOR
Baltimore City, or the clerk thereof, the oath or affirmation
prescribed by Section 6 9 of Article 1 of the Constitution of
Maryland and shall give bond to the Mayor and City Council of
Baltimore in a form and in an amount as determined by the Mayor
and City Council.

(e)  The POLICE Commissioner is subject to removal by the
Mayor for official misconduct, malfeasance, inefficiency or
incompetency, including prolonged illness, in the manner provided
by law in the case of civil officers.

(f)  In case of death, resignation, retirement, removal or
disqualification of the POLICE Commissioner, the Mayor shall
appoint a successor for the remainder of the term so vacated.

(g)  The POLICE Commissioner is not eligible for an elective
or appointed office during the term for which [he] THE
COMMISSIONER was appointed, unless [he] THE COMMISSIONER resigns
six months prior to the primary election or appointment.

16-11.

(b) No member of the POLICE Department may be [so]
dismissed or removed except after written charges have been
preferred, reasonable notice provided, and full opportunity
afforded to be heard in [his] THE MEMBER'S own defense, either