CHAPTER 52

An Act to amend and reenact § 2 of Chapter 12 of an act entitled: “An
Act to provide a new charter for the City of Portsmouth’, approved
March 10, 1908, as amended by Chapter 246 of the Acts of Assembly
of 1942, approved March 18, 1942, relating to the establishment of
a civil service commission for said city and the administration

thereof.
[H 202]
Approved February 25, 1954
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 2 of Chapter 12 of an act entitled: “An Act to provide a new
charter for the City of Portsmouth,” approved March 10, 1908, as amended
by Chapter 246 of the Acts of Assembly of 1942, approved March 18, 1942,
be amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 2. The classified civil service provisions of this chapter shall in-
clude all employees of the police and fire departments, or any other depart-
ments of said city which may come within the purview of this chapter,
as hereinafter provided, but shall not include the chief of the police or
fire department or the head of any other department. However, if a mem-
ber of the police department is appointed as chief of that department and
ig afterwards removed from such position, he shall be reinstated to his
former position in the department for which he has qualified under the
civil service regulations, provided, he is not subject to dismissal under
any of the provisions of § 6 of this chapter. All appointments to and pro-
motions in said departments shall be made solely on merit, efficiency and
fitness, which shall be ascertained by open competitive examination and
impartial investigation.

No person shall be reinstated or transferred, suspended or discharged
from any such place, position or employment contrary to the provisions
of this chapter.