An Act authorizing the mayor of the city of Methuen to appoint police cadets to the Methuen Police Department

This bill authorizes the mayor of Methuen to hire police cadets directly into entry-level police positions without requiring them to go through the standard civil service competitive exam process. To qualify for these appointments, candidates must have completed at least two years of service as police cadets in Methuen and be on an eligible list for the police force. The law limits the number of such hires to no more than 35 percent of total police force appointments in any given year and requires the mayor to report these hires to the state personnel administrator. Additionally, the mayor can use this authority to prioritize hiring women and minorities to promote diversity within the department.