N.Y. SCC Law § 135

§ 135. Membership. No person shall be appointed to membership in the\npolice or fire departments of the city, or continue to hold membership\ntherein, who is not a citizen of good moral character, who has ever been\nconvicted of a felony, who can not understandingly read and write the\nEnglish language, and who shall not have resided in the city during the\ntwo years next preceding his appointment. The commissioner shall make\nall appointments, promotions and changes of status of the officers and\nmembers of the police and fire departments in accordance with the\nprovisions of the civil service law of the state, except as otherwise\nprovided herein. In making promotions, seniority and meritorious service\nin the department, as well as superior capacity, as shown by competitive\nexamination, shall be taken into account. Individual acts of bravery may\nbe treated as acts of meritorious service, and the relative weight\ntherefor shall be fixed by the municipal civil service commission. No\nmember of the police or fire departments shall hold any other office nor\nbe employed in any other department of the city government.\n