Petersen

This is an appeal by the petitioner, Walter J. Petersen, from a judgment dismissing a writ of certiorari theretofore issued at his request, for the purpose of having reviewed the decision of the Civil Service Board of the City of Oakland concerning the attempted removal by the Commission of that city of said Petersen from the office of captain of inspectors of the Oakland police department.

From the record it appears that on September 11, 1920, the commissioner of public health and safety of said city, acting under the authority of section 81 of the charter of said city, made an order removing Petersen from office, assigning as reasons therefor, twenty-one separate grounds of alleged misconduct, incompetency, failure to perform the duties of said office and failure to observe the rules of the department. Thereupon Petersen appealed from said order to the Civil Service Board, whose duty it was, under section 82 of said charter, to “fully hear and determine the matter.” Much delay preceded and attended the trial of said Petersen, and after the matter was ordered submitted for decision more delay followed, due to the sickness and subsequent resignation of one of the then members of…