Subject to the approval of the Commissioner of Public Safety, the chief may appoint 2 one commissioned officers officer of the State Police to act as the chief's deputies deputy and 2 commissioned officers of the State Police to act as the chief's majors, all of whom serve at the pleasure of the chief. Subject to the Civil Service Law, the Chief of the State Police may enlist suitable persons as members of the State Police to enforce the law and employ such other employees as may be necessary. The Chief of the State Police shall make rules, subject to the approval of the State Civil Service Appeals Board, for the discipline and control of the State Police. If a deputy chief or major is removed or fails to be reappointed for any reason other than malfeasance of office and, at that time, does not have at least 20 years the number of years of creditable service with the State Police necessary for a service retirement benefit pursuant to Title 5, section 17851, subsection 4, the deputy chief or major must be reinstated at the commissioned rank held at the time of the appointment with all the rights and privileges as provided by law and personnel rules.

It is the intent of the Legislature that the Governor may in his the Governor's discretion appoint the same person to serve as Commissioner of Public Safety and Chief of the Maine State Police. In this event, the Governor shall appoint the Chief of the State Police shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to review by the Joint Standing Committee on State Government joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice and public safety matters and to confirmation by the Legislature, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor. Such appointment may be made from the commissioned officer membership of the State Police. In the event that the Commissioner of Public Safety and the Chief of the State Police are the same person, the commissioner shall may receive only the salary designated for the Commissioner of Public Safety.