In counties of the second class within thirty days the commission shall arrange for special examinations of applicants for positions in the police force for the purpose of increasing the force by forty persons. The examination shall be practical in character and shall relate to such matters and include such inquiries as will fairly test the persons examined with respect to their expertise in criminal investigation and related police work and their merit and fitness to discharge the duties of their employment. Applicants for examination under the provisions of this section shall be eighteen years of age or older and need not be a resident of the county, but shall in all other respects meet the eligibility requirements of this article for examination for positions in the police force.
Except as otherwise in this section provided, examinations of qualified applicants shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of this Article XV relating to examination of applicants for positions in the police force. Appointments not to exceed forty in number shall be made within one year and except as otherwise in this section provided, shall be made in accordance with the provisions of this Article XV relating to appointments to the police force. Anyone appointed under the provisions of this section shall in all respects be subject to the provisions of this article relating to members of the police force.
16 P.S. § 4515.1