Tom Oels v. Anchorage Police Department Employees Association, Municipality of Anchorage

Summary

The court reversed the superior court and held that the municipal retire/rehire ordinance unambiguously requires an approved retiring police sergeant to be rehired in the same position or in a position within the same or a parallel class, while resetting salary, leave accrual, and seniority to entry levels. The court concluded that the ordinance's legislative history and purpose did not overcome or contradict that plain meaning. The court declined to consider Oels's fair-representation and collective-bargaining claims because they were abandoned or not properly presented on appeal.