New York Consolidated Laws, Civil Service Law - CVS § 83-f. Procedures

a. In making recommendations for the appropriate rank to which present police officers will be assigned to the consolidated department, consideration will be given to the examination from which the present incumbents received their permanent civil service status, the length of time served in their present position and other related factors which will be established and promulgated by the board.

b. Where there may not be sufficient vacancies in the organization of the consolidated police department for all persons to be assigned to their rank as determined by the board, the board will determine the persons to be selected for existing vacancies in accordance with criteria established by the board.  Those persons not selected to the rank to which their previous position has been declared equivalent will be placed on a preferred list for that specific rank.  Such persons will have priority in appointment for the next lower rank position in the organization.  Such appointment will not affect their status on the preferred list in the higher rank when subsequent vacancies develop.