BREA
A Superior Court judge Wednesday ordered the reinstatement of a firefighter demoted from captain to engineer two years ago. Judge William McDonald said he found no evidence to support the 1997 disciplinary action against Gregg Lewis, an 18-year veteran of the Brea Fire Department. City Manager Frank Benest removed Lewis from his post as captain in August 1997, alleging that he disregarded an order by Fire Chief William Simpkins and lied about a report.
Lewis had filed a petition at Santa Ana Superior Court after Benest rejected an independent arbitrator’s decision to reinstate him. The city could appeal the Superior Court decision, Benest said.
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