Bennett v. Blytheville Civil Service Commission

Steele Hays, Justice.

When a captain of the Blytheville Fire Department was promoted to the rank of chief, a vacancy was left in the Office of Captain. Lt. Tommy Bennett, appellant, and Lt. Jerry Summers applied. Both had been with the department since about 1971, Bennett being senior to Summers by about a year.

The Blytheville Civil Service Commission explained the procedures to Lts. Bennett and Summers — they would undergo a written examination prepared by the Fire Academy which would be given a weight of 60%, an oral examination weighted 20%, and a departmental evaluation weighted 20%.

The…