By Maria Hickey, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – Former St. Louis Fire Chief Sherman George has retired from the department, but is still aiming to get his old job back.
George's attorney has filed complaints with the city's Civil Service Commission, the state Human Rights Commission, and the U-S Equal Employment Opportunities Commission.
The fire chief was demoted after he refused to make promotions based on a 2004 test.
George says the city charter and a 2005 court ruling gives him clear responsibility for making, or not making, promotions.
"You can't order me not to exercise my discretion," George said. "That would be like telling someone how to vote. It's outside the law, and it's not the American way."
But Mayor Francis Slay says the city followed the rule of law.
"Keep in mind had Chief George made the promotions as he was ordered to do by his boss, he'd still be chief today," Slay said. "And that was his choice, he chose not to make those promotions, so his fate was in his own hands."
Slay says no promotions were made in the fire department for five years.
He says they were important for public safety, the betterment of the fire department, and in fairness to those in line for promotions.