Thirty – OneThe Civil Service Commission governed Fire and Police Department entrance exams, appointed firefighters and police officers, and conducted promotional exams. Its three Commissioners, the appeals board in all matters of discipline, were appointed by the mayor with Council approval. A Human Rights Director sat as an Ex-Officio Member. The four were about to judge Ben Court.
Ben arrived early at the City Hall. He found a handful of reporters, including Forester, being advised that, as the fire chief's complaint fell under the umbrella of a 'personnel matter', the Commissioners would meet behind closed doors. The news hounds groaned; Ben sighed in relief. Witnesses would be called to support Castronovo's contention that he, Ben, was insubordinate, but they'd do so in private. Ben'
