Subd. 1. Employees in classified service.

1. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) and subdivision 2, every person holding a position in the classified service of a municipality on the effective date of the merit system ordinance and every person subsequently appointed to such a position shall serve a probationary period of six months.
2. (b) The probationary period for a peace officer is 12 months.

3. (c) During the probationary period described in this subdivision, the person may be dismissed summarily without compliance with section 44.08, but the dismissal shall be in writing and reported to the board.

   [See Note.]

Subd. 2. Police or fire department employees.

Subject to the completion of an existing probationary period, any permanent employee of a police or fire department under the jurisdiction of a police or fire civil service commission at the time of the effective date of a merit system ordinance shall automatically become a permanent employee in the classified service subject to and protected by this chapter without the service of any additional probationary period thereunder for the position then occupied.