The path to becoming a lieutenant in the Fort Dodge Police Department was laid out by the city's Civil Service Commission Wednesday.
Commission members approved a timeline which will result in a promotion to fill a vacant lieutenant's position by the end of August. Police Chief Tim Carmody said that filling the lieutenant's post may also result in an experienced police officer being promoted to sergeant and a new entry-level police officer being hired.
There is a lieutenant's vacancy because the employment of David Beshey was terminated after he was arrested in February on charges of first degree burglary and stalking. He's accused of pulling a man out of an apartment, and sending 100 text messages to the occupant of the apartment. His trial is scheduled to begin next month.
The commission set Aug. 6 as the date for the written lieutenant's exam. Commission members also decided that individuals must score at least 75 percent on the test to be considered for promotion.
Under a schedule introduced by Carmody and approved by the commission, the written test results will be certified by the City Council on Aug. 13. Those who pass the written exam would complete the testing process and be interviewed Aug. 14 through Aug. 17. After all of that testing, the candidate selected for the promotion would be submitted for City Council approval on Aug. 27.
After the position is filled, the department will again have its full complement of four lieutenants. Each lieutenant commands a shift of patrol officers.
There are current civil service lists that will be used to promote a police officer to sergeant and to hire a new police officer, according to Jim Vollmer, the city's human resources director.