Does state law mandate what is required if a police or fire civil service position is eliminated?
No. This is a situation in which a position is being eliminated. It is not a demotion, disciplinary action, or a layoff. State civil service law does not mandate how this must be handled. • If the current eligibility list has expired for police officers, can the position be filled with a temporary person? RCW 41.08.040(9), 41.12.040(9), and 41.14.060(7) provide for a temporary or provisional appointment to be made when there is a vacancy and there is no eligibility list. Such a temporary or provisional appointment is not to last more than four months, and one person may not serve as a provisional or temporary appointee for more than four months in any one fiscal year. • Could a temporary employee be used for a six-month period? In a city or town, the answer is likely “yes,” for only “substantial compliance” is required with the state statutes. There is no “substantial compliance” language in chapter 41.14 RCW, so use of temporary or provisional employees in a sheriff’s department is li
