Runyan
Runyan v. Ellis
Opinion
Opinion
Aldrich, J.
Introduction
Respondents, the City of Long Beach (the City), the City’s Manager, James C. Hankla and the City’s Chief of Police, William C. Ellis (the Chief), appeal from the grant of a peremptory writ of mandate ordering them to provide petitioner, Gary Runyan, a police officer with the City, an administrative appeal before the City’s civil service commission in accordance with the Public Safety Officers’ Procedural Bill of Rights Act (hereinafter the Bill of Rights Act). (Gov. Code, § 3304, subd. (b).) Because we hold the writ was properly issued, the judgment is affirmed.
Factual and Procedural Background
In June, 1992, the police department for the City filed an internal affairs complaint against Runyan for deficiencies in his performance. On September 28, 1992, the City sent a formal letter of reprimand listing six incidents of alleged failure on Runyan’s part to meet the police department’s standards as a peace officer. Runyan was notified the City would take the disciplinary measure of temporarily transferring him for 90 days from the patrol bureau, field support division to the patrol bureau, east division, team 24 and reduce his pay. Runyan was also notified…