(1) The Director of the Division of Arkansas State Police shall appoint all members of the police force, subject to approval of the Arkansas State Police Commission, and the director shall select the clerical and stenographic force of the Division of Arkansas State Police.
(2) The commission shall promulgate rules setting forth the minimum qualifications for employment as a division police officer and prescribing the manner of examination of applicants for the position.
(3) The director shall receive all applications for positions as division officers and submit them to the commission for examination as to the physical fitness and mental qualifications of the applicants and for such other examinations as provided for by the commission's rules.
(4) All applications and examinations shall be in writing and shall be kept as a permanent file by the commission for not less than five (5) years.
(5) A list containing the names of all applicants who possess the necessary qualifications as determined by the commission shall be certified to the director.
(6) From this list, the director shall make the final selection for the appointments, and any vacancy occurring in the division shall be filled from this list.