SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the Office of Chief of Police and the position of Deputy Chief of Police of the City of Worcester shall not be subject to Chapter 31 of the General Laws, and such Chief and Deputy Chiefs of Police shall not have Civil Service status, subject to Sections 2 and 3.

SECTION 2. If the city manager appoints a Chief from within the Police Department, that employee will be granted a leave of absence by the city manager from their Civil Service rank and position during the time they serve as Police Chief. If they are no longer Police Chief, they may return to their prior Civil Service rank and position, provided they have not reached the maximum age for retirement under Chapter 32 of the General Laws for police officers.

SECTION 3. If the city manager appoints a Deputy Chief of Police from within the Police Department, that employee will be granted a leave of absence by the city manager from their Civil Service rank and position during the time they serve as Deputy Chief of Police. If they are no longer Deputy Chief of Police, they may return to their prior Civil Service rank and position, provided they have not reached the maximum age for retirement under Chapter 32 of the General Laws for police officers.

SECTION 4. Nothing in this act shall impair the civil service status of any tenured employee holding a position governed by the civil service laws on the effective date of this act.

SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon its passage