Indianapolis Police and Fire Hiring Preference for Veterans

IC 36-8-4-10(a) requires whoever hires for a fire or police department to give a preference first to "a war veteran who has been discharged from the armed forces of the United States under conditions other than" those in IC 10-17-12-8.1(2): a court-martial discharge, a discharge accepted to avoid one, or a discharge for treason, spying, mutiny, desertion, a sexual or violent offense or a listed separation code. A general or other-than-honorable discharge for other reasons qualifies. The applicant must apply and meet the department's requirements. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. Section 279-235 of the consolidated code has the merit board give the preference to "a war veteran who has been honorably discharged". That asks for more than the statute, which governs; a war veteran with a general discharge should claim the preference under 36-8-4-10. Indianapolis Fire Department. Section 252-202 has the chief give a preference to an applicant "who has served in the military service and has received an honorable discharge from any branch", Coast Guard included, and to Army PaYS participants. It does not require wartime service, so it reaches more veterans than the statute in that respect, but it too asks for an honorable discharge.