84.590. Promotions within the police department shall, asfar as practicable, be made from lower ranks and, other factorsbeing equal, preference shall be given to seniority. Unless thechief shall recommend and the board shall approve waiver of therequirement, a police officer to be eligible for promotion shallhave served at least two years in the rank from which he is to bepromoted and must be certified by the police physician asphysically able to discharge the duties of the rank to which heis to be promoted. Patrolmen shall be considered of one rankwithout regard to their classification. It shall be considered apromotion when an officer is notified in writing by the chief ofpolice that he has been assigned to a permanent position inanother rank for which a higher maximum rate of compensation isprescribed by law; but assignment to a temporary or acting rankwith a higher rate of compensation shall not be considered apromotion within the meaning of this section.
(L. 1943 p. 727 ยง 7662, A.L. 1953 p. 304)