# KRS § 16.055: 16.055 Promotions -- Terms and conditions > Kentucky · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TIII_C16_S16.055 ## Section - **Citation:** KRS § 16.055 - **Heading:** 16.055 Promotions -- Terms and conditions - **Jurisdiction:** Kentucky - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** KY Code / Title III / Chapter 16 / Section 16.055 ## Text 16.055 Promotions -- Terms and conditions. (1) Promotions to sergeant within the department shall be on the following terms and conditions: (a) The applicant must have served six (6) years of continuous service as a commissioned State Police officer to be eligible for promotion to sergeant; (b) The applicant may be excluded from promotion eligibility by the commissioner for up to thirty-six (36) months on the basis of substantiated misconduct, as set forth in department policy; (c) Promotions shall be based on cumulative scores computed from twenty-five percent (25) on personnel performance evaluation, thirty percent (30) on job simulation examination, and forty-five percent (45) on a written examination on which the applicant achieved at least a minimum score as determined by the commissioner in consultation with the Kentucky State Police Promotional Review Board; (d) The promotional list shall be valid for one (1) year, shall consist of the numerical scores and rankings of each applicant, and promotions shall be made in consecutive order beginning with the highest numerical ranking to fill an interim vacancy. When two (2) or more applicants receive the same numerical score, the order of placement on the list shall be determined by seniority of service. Upon the determination of a new numerical ranking following a new examination, all previous rankings shall be null and void; (e) The written examination shall be prepared and administered by an individual designated by the commissioner. The materials and textbooks will be selected by the commissioner and his or her staff. The commissioner will inform all applicants at least three (3) months prior to the examination date of the exact material from which test questions will be taken and the minimum score required to be eligible for placement on the promotional list; (f) The written test shall be administered to all applicants at the same time. Immediately upon completion of the written test the applicant will receive his or her numerical score. Such numerical score shall remain valid for a period of two (2) years following the date of examination unless the source material upon which the test is based is changed by more than thirty percent (30), provided that the numerical score meets or exceeds the minimum score set in paragraph (e) of this subsection for the current year's promotional list; (g) The job simulation examination shall be evaluated by boards designated by the commissioner consisting of the commissioner or his or her designated appointee not lower than rank of captain, an officer from another police agency of the rank equal to the position for which the applicant is competing, an instructor from an accredited law enforcement education program, a personnel director from private industry, and an officer from the Kentucky State Police of the rank equal to the position for which the applicant is competing; (h) The designated job simulation examination boards will perform all evaluations under guidelines developed and approved by the commissioner; and ant is competing, an instructor from an accredited law enforcement education program, a personnel director from private industry, and an officer from the Kentucky State Police of the rank equal to the position for which the applicant is competing; (h) The designated job simulation examination boards will perform all evaluations under guidelines developed and approved by the commissioner; and (i) Personnel evaluations shall be made by the appropriate supervisory personnel under procedures established and approved by the commissioner. (2) Promotions from sergeant to lieutenant within the department shall be on the same terms and conditions as promotions to sergeant. In addition, any applicant for lieutenant must have completed at least one (1) year of continuous service in grade as sergeant. (3) Promotions from lieutenant to captain within the department shall be on the same terms and conditions as promotions to lieutenant. In addition, any applicant for captain must have completed at least one (1) year of continuous service in grade as lieutenant. (4) The department will develop and administer only one (1) test for each of the above ranks. All eligible applicants will be permitted to participate in the promotional process to the next highest position of responsibility wherever a vacancy exists. (5) Officers promoted to rank of sergeant, lieutenant, or captain shall serve a probationary period for one (1) year of continuous service from the effective date of their promotions, and may be reverted to their previous rank with or without cause at any time during this period. If reverted to a previous rank, an individual is ineligible for promotion the next time the promotional process is offered. (6) The provisions of KRS 16.140 to the contrary notwithstanding, all ranks above the grade of captain are temporary and shall not be subject to the provisions for selection and promotion as required herein. All officers in such temporary positions shall serve at the pleasure of the commissioner and shall revert to their previous permanent rank upon the termination of their temporary appointment. (7) The total number of supervisory officers of all classifications shall be limited to a ratio not to exceed one (1) supervisor for every five (5) nonsupervisory officers. (8) No officer of the department, other than temporary positions above the rank of captain, shall be promoted to the next highest rank without competing with other officers as prescribed by this promotional procedure. (9) There shall be no discrimination based on race, sex, age, national origin, color, religion, creed, or political affiliation with respect to the department promotional system. All personnel actions are to be based solely on merit. ## Nearby sections - [KRS § 16.010 16.010 Definitions for KRS 16.010 to 16.199](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TIII_C16_S16.010.md) - [KRS § 16.030 16.030 Qualifications of commissioner](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TIII_C16_S16.030.md) - [KRS § 16.040 16.040 Organization of department -- Qualifications of officers -- Investigation of applicants](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TIII_C16_S16.040.md) - [KRS § 16.045 16.045 Appointment of deputy commissioner](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TIII_C16_S16.045.md) - [KRS § 16.050 16.050 Appointment and compensation of personnel -- Department of Kentucky State Police Personnel Board -- Organization, duties, and compensation -- Repayment of training costs](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TIII_C16_S16.050.md) - [KRS § 16.052 16.052 Salary schedules for Kentucky State Police officers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TIII_C16_S16.052.md) - [KRS § 16.055 16.055 Promotions -- Terms and conditions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TIII_C16_S16.055.md) - [KRS § 16.060 16.060 Powers and duties of commissioner and officers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TIII_C16_S16.060.md) - [KRS § 16.062 16.062 Prohibition against requesting or requiring victim of alleged sexual offense to submit to polygraph or other examination -- Other prohibitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TIII_C16_S16.062.md) - [KRS § 16.065 16.065 Additional duties of department](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TIII_C16_S16.065.md) - [KRS § 16.066 16.066 Design and availability of forms relating to purchases of metals and objects containing metal -- Charges for copies -- Copyright -- Use of other facsimiles](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TIII_C16_S16.066.md) - [KRS § 16.068 16.068 Fees for fingerprint impressions or photograph requested for professional, trade, or commercial purposes or personal use](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TIII_C16_S16.068.md) - [KRS § 16.070 16.070 Uniforms, equipment, and facilities](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TIII_C16_S16.070.md) - [KRS § 16.075 16.075 Automobile liability insurance for State Police](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TIII_C16_S16.075.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KY_TIII_C16_S16.055. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.