# RCW 41.12.050: RCW 41.12.050: Persons included—Restricted exemptions—Competitive examinations—Transfers, discharges, and reinstatements > Washington · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T41_C12_S050 ## Section - **Citation:** RCW 41.12.050 - **Heading:** RCW 41.12.050: Persons included—Restricted exemptions—Competitive examinations—Transfers, discharges, and reinstatements - **Jurisdiction:** Washington - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** Washington Code / Title 41 / Chapter 12 / Section 050 ## Text (1) For police departments with fewer than six commissioned officers, including the police chief, the classified civil service and provisions of this chapter includes all full paid employees of the department of the city, town, or municipality. (2) For police departments with six or more commissioned officers, including the police chief, the legislative body of a city, town, or municipality may exempt from civil service individuals appointed as police chief after July 1, 1987. (a) If the police chief is not exempt, the classified civil service includes all full paid employees of the department of the city, town, or municipality, including the police chief. (b) If the police chief is exempt, the classified civil service includes all full paid employees of the department of the city, town, or municipality, except the police chief and an additional number of positions, designated the unclassified service, determined as follows: Department Personnel Unclassified Position Appointments 6 through 10 2 11 through 20 3 21 through 50 4 51 through 100 5 101 through 250 6 251 through 500 8 501 and over 10 (3) The unclassified position appointments authorized by subsection (2)(b) of this section may only include selections from the following positions up to the limit of the number of positions authorized: Assistant chief, deputy chief, bureau commander, and administrative assistant or administrative secretary. The initial selection of specific positions to be in the unclassified service and exempt from civil service shall be made by the police chief, who shall notify the civil service commission of his or her selection. Subsequent changes in the designation of which positions are in the unclassified service may be made only with the concurrence of the police chief, the mayor or the city administrator, and the civil service commission, and then only after the civil service commission has heard the issue in an open meeting. If a position initially selected by the police chief to be in the unclassified service is in the classified civil service at the time of the selection, and if the position is occupied, the employee occupying the position has the right to return to the next highest position or a like position in the classified civil service. (4) All appointments to and promotions in the department shall be made solely on merit, efficiency, and fitness except as provided in RCW 35.13.360 through 35.13.400 , which shall be ascertained by open competitive examination and impartial investigation. No person in the unclassified service shall be reinstated in or transferred, suspended, or discharged from any such place, position, or employment contrary to the provisions of this chapter. ## Nearby sections - [RCW 41.12.010 RCW 41.12.010: Application of chapter.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T41_C12_S010.md) - [RCW 41.12.020 RCW 41.12.020: Excluded cities—Repeal of local law—Effect.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T41_C12_S020.md) - [RCW 41.12.030 RCW 41.12.030: Civil service commission—Appointment—Terms—Removal—Quorum.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T41_C12_S030.md) - [RCW 41.12.040 RCW 41.12.040: Organization of commission—Secretary—Powers and duties of commission.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T41_C12_S040.md) - [RCW 41.12.050 RCW 41.12.050: Persons included—Restricted exemptions—Competitive examinations—Transfers, discharges, and reinstatements.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T41_C12_S050.md) - [RCW 41.12.070 RCW 41.12.070: Qualifications of applicants—Law enforcement agencies.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T41_C12_S070.md) - [RCW 41.12.075 RCW 41.12.075: Residency as condition of employment—Discrimination because of lack of residency—Prohibited.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T41_C12_S075.md) - [RCW 41.12.080 RCW 41.12.080: Tenure of employment—Grounds for discharge, reduction, or deprivation of privileges.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T41_C12_S080.md) - [RCW 41.12.090 RCW 41.12.090: Procedure for removal, suspension, demotion or discharge—Investigation—Hearing—Appeal.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T41_C12_S090.md) - [RCW 41.12.100 RCW 41.12.100: Filling of vacancies—Probationary period.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T41_C12_S100.md) - [RCW 41.12.110 RCW 41.12.110: Power to create offices, make appointments and fix salaries not infringed.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T41_C12_S110.md) - [RCW 41.12.120 RCW 41.12.120: Approval of payrolls.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T41_C12_S120.md) - [RCW 41.12.130 RCW 41.12.130: Leaves of absence—Notice—Filling vacancy.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T41_C12_S130.md) - [RCW 41.12.140 RCW 41.12.140: Enforcement by civil action—Legal counsel.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T41_C12_S140.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T41_C12_S050. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.