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Chicago Sun-Times
May 22, 2007
Pg. 18
Reservists say they qualified for advancement but got only 'tough luck'
By Abdon M. Pallasch, The Chicago Sun-Times
Two Chicago Police officers filed a federal lawsuit Monday alleging they were denied promotions they had qualified for because they were away serving in Iraq as members of the Army Reserve.
Federal law requires employers to hold jobs open for members of the armed forces.
Officer Juan Sandoval, a lieutenant in the Army Reserve, says he passed the Police Department exam for field training officer before leaving for Baghdad in 2003. When he returned in 2004, he was denied his promotion, the suit states.
During a three-month assignment to El Salvador in 2006, Sandoval said he had to travel through hostile conditions in body armor to the capital of San Salvador to take the sergeant's exam. When he got back to Chicago he was not promoted and told "tough luck," the suit states.
Officer Sidney Pennix had to travel 72 hours from Baghdad to Frankfurt, Germany, to take that 2006 sergeant's exam and likewise was denied a promotion on his return, the suit states.
Spokeswomen for the city's Law and Police departments said they could not comment on the lawsuit.
May 22, 2007
Pg. 18
Reservists say they qualified for advancement but got only 'tough luck'
By Abdon M. Pallasch, The Chicago Sun-Times
Two Chicago Police officers filed a federal lawsuit Monday alleging they were denied promotions they had qualified for because they were away serving in Iraq as members of the Army Reserve.
Federal law requires employers to hold jobs open for members of the armed forces.
Officer Juan Sandoval, a lieutenant in the Army Reserve, says he passed the Police Department exam for field training officer before leaving for Baghdad in 2003. When he returned in 2004, he was denied his promotion, the suit states.
During a three-month assignment to El Salvador in 2006, Sandoval said he had to travel through hostile conditions in body armor to the capital of San Salvador to take the sergeant's exam. When he got back to Chicago he was not promoted and told "tough luck," the suit states.
Officer Sidney Pennix had to travel 72 hours from Baghdad to Frankfurt, Germany, to take that 2006 sergeant's exam and likewise was denied a promotion on his return, the suit states.
Spokeswomen for the city's Law and Police departments said they could not comment on the lawsuit.