Town Meeting voters will face a proposal that could change the police department's hiring method.

The police department has proposed to eliminate the civil service exam for upcoming captains in an attempt to create a more cohesive management team and avoid a hiring hiatus.

The civil service exam is a state test given to promotion candidates. The test is given every other year, but there must be four applicants for the test to be administered. Following the exam, candidates are ranked based on their scores, and the town must hire and/or promote in that order unless it has a reason for bypass, he said.

"With a department our size, it's hard to get enough people to sign up for the test," said acting Chief Brian Levesque. Dartmouth averages two to four lieutenants, said Levesque.

If there are not enough candidates, the test reopens the following year to include subordinate rankings. In Dartmouth's case, there have not been enough applicants for the captain’s exam since 2015, so the test will open again this October, but to lieutenants, sergeants, and patrolmen, said Levesque.

To take the exam, the only requirement is having one year on the department, said Levesque.

"Theoretically, we could have a patrolman with one year on the job taking up the captain position," said Levesque. Levesque argued that the department would rather promote a lieutenant with more experience than a one-year patrolman who's a decent test-taker.

The police are aiming to pass this measure through Town Meeting before the civil service exam is opened to patrolmen in October.

Additionally, Levesque said that eliminating the captain from the civil service exam allows for a stronger administration, which is typically a three-person unit including the chief, the deputy chief, and a captain. The chief and deputy chief positions are exempt from the civil service exams.

Department promotions, hirings, and firings are all made by the Select Board. The police chief is responsible for making recommendations to the board.