New civilian hires, police trainees, police graduates, and promotional employees shall be on probation for a period of one year, with the exception of employees covered by the Operating Engineers Collective Bargaining Agreement who serve a six-month probationary period. Police trainees will be on probation during the academy, and then will start a one-year probationary period upon assignment to patrol.  

An employee may be terminated at any time during the probationary period. Employment will automatically continue unless the chief of police certifies, before the end of the probationary period, that the employee has not performed satisfactorily. Therefore, it is vitally important that supervisors be aware of the deadlines involving a probationary employee who does not perform satisfactorily.  If employment is terminated at the end of the probationary period, and if the probationer is entitled to veteran’s preference in accordance with the Veteran’s Preference Act of the State of Minnesota, they shall be entitled to a hearing as required by law.

(See Saint Paul Civil Service Rules, 10: Probation)

Revised May 22, 2019

Last Edited: June 10, 2019