(A) As used in this section, "felony" has the same meaning as in section 109.511 of the Revised Code.

(B)

(1) The director of public safety shall not appoint a person as a chief of police, a member of the police department of the municipal corporation, or an auxiliary police officer on a permanent basis, on a temporary basis, for a probationary term, or on other than a permanent basis if the person previously has been convicted of or has pleaded guilty to a felony.

(2)

(a) The director of public safety shall terminate the employment of a chief of police, member of the police department, or auxiliary police officer who does either of the following:

(i) Pleads guilty to a felony;

(ii) Pleads guilty to a misdemeanor pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement as provided in division (D) of section 2929.43 of the Revised Code in which the chief of police, member of the police department, or auxiliary police officer agrees to surrender the certificate awarded to the chief of police, member of the police department, or auxiliary police officer under section 109.77 of the Revised Code.

(b) The director shall suspend from employment a chief of police, member of the police department, or auxiliary police officer who is convicted, after trial, of a felony. If the chief of police, member of the police department, or auxiliary police officer files an appeal from that conviction and the conviction is upheld by the highest court to which the appeal is taken or if the chief of police, member of the police department, or auxiliary police officer does not file a timely appeal, the director shall terminate that person's employment. If the chief of police, member of the police department, or auxiliary police officer files an appeal that results in that person's acquittal of the felony or conviction of a misdemeanor, or in the dismissal of the felony charge against that person, the director shall reinstate that person. A chief of police, member of the police department, or auxiliary police officer who is reinstated under division (B)(2)(b) of this section shall not receive any back pay unless that person's conviction of the felony was reversed on appeal, or the felony charge was dismissed, because the court found insufficient evidence to convict that person of the felony.

(3) Division (B) of this section does not apply regarding an offense that was committed prior to January 1, 1997.

(4) The suspension from employment, or the termination of the employment, of the chief of police, member of the police department, or auxiliary police officer under division (B)(2) of this section shall be in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Effective Date: 01-01-2004 .