Public safety officers; preference for employment

Sec. 10. (a) Subject to subsection (c), the board or persons having the authority to employ members of the fire or police department shall give a preference for employment according to the following priority: (1) A war veteran who has been discharged from the armed forces of the United States under conditions other than conditions set forth in IC 10-17-12-8.1(2). (2) A person whose mother or father was a: (A) firefighter of a unit; (B) municipal police officer; or (C) county police officer; who died in the line of duty (as defined in IC 5-10-10-2). (b) Subject to subsection (c), the board or person having the authority to employ members of a fire or police department may give a preference for employment to any of the following: (1) A police officer or firefighter laid off by another city under section 11 of this chapter. (2) A county police officer laid off by a sheriff's department under IC 36-8-10-11.1. (3) A person who: (A) was employed full-time or part-time by a township to provide fire protection and emergency services; and (B) has been laid off by the township. (c) A person described in subsection (a) or (b) may not receive a preference for employment unless the person: (1) applies; and (2) meets all employment requirements prescribed: (A) by law, including physical and age requirements; and (B) by the fire or police department. [Pre-Local Government Recodification Citation: 19-1-35-3.] As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.53. Amended by P.L.95-2003, SEC.1; P.L.110-2010, SEC.35; P.L.238-2025, SEC.92; P.L.94-2026, SEC.87.