Popejoy v. Zagel

On September 16, 1980, Lonnie Popejoy (plaintiff) was promoted from the rank of trooper to the rank of corporal in the Division of State Police of the Illinois Department of Law Enforcement. He was returned to rank of trooper by order of the Director of the Department of Law Enforcement (defendant) on August 1, 1981. Plaintiff brought action for a writ of mandamus to compel his reinstatement to the rank of corporal. The trial court issued the writ and defendant now appeals.

The question before this court is whether defendant could properly reduce plaintiff’s rank absent compliance with the…