Asher v. City of Los Angeles

Prior to the events herein involved, the Los Angeles Fire Department had (so far as herein involved) three ranks or grades: fireman (Code 2111), auto fireman (Code 2121) and engineer of fire department (Code 2131). *838Petitioners had been duly appointed to, and held, positions as auto firemen.1

In 1960, the department, with the concurrence of the Civil Service Commission and of the city council, reorganized the departmental structure. In addition to the substitution of a three-platoon system for a two-platoon system, the position of auto fireman was made a “terminal” post—i.e., no new…