ÿWPC^ Oxkâã»h‚í‰{‚艔ñš?ž]Ùidõ #ÓÈ–¬ž¿EÍM 1qÉÇ5°j—¦¶(ïwšcI­òÛèl:`Ý:éF© ¾ ×¼IŠwI~¶L_fŸ¹ݾUd²½r¦0]î“ôµ±I_XòÊrôâá ¶°8j]Ù¾8ù ip2º¬¡LtJøEÚ+8@"B i[Î?©þ¬µFaœÛ‚ ÅTwfy0Õ‰^ËÄ3÷ØsÙÚS¤Ðâu¥n˜•ÿ\SÙ÷ñ.ÀQê)ïĘÇiµ÷÷“‰mî:G³*4^*ÆnùaÁÌ/²XæE>ãy˜æÁœŽ™ßxa)rt#z@™QçN;fëGçaõ¶»ŽèßBÔèy›™ãkå —\:KôGÚE&Å÷MY1?-6ë‡óúÿ;{ðzµ?õ8iìn›pñ“Ï›|ü+œŠÄÕàö]¤)98í ~ÔqýÛ—¡Ù!gBбž—ô}`=ºRçvÈM®–ªtGök/(Jýrn%lÉpNwsÀºû¡Y2’žÞF~Bæ7úë—zŸÐ€:[n¶÷[è¡jj²S‰ÇåÀj”5jZ¬TB³Ã±ìíYÌYÔb %\UNb 0ˆ°UN8†^ ˆ w ” zž Ò 4ê Nþ  0DÆSÆÆßÆ¥kNm mo#ɆEOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOObQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ 0ëYYYY BDD 0¤a D5 D-: 0Kgg AS²Æ 0¤Ë 0Do A«³»(@øÐ Z‹6Times New Roman Regular(`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular øÝ ƒRîz$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô÷„ ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€The€notice€of€appeal€in€this€case€was€filed€by€ð ðClark€Dunlap,€et.€al.ðð€Underò òòò€Ô_ÔMairoseÔ_Ô€v.€Federal€Exp.€Corp.óó,Ð ° Ð86€S.W.3d€502€(Ô_ÔTenn.Ct.AppÔ_Ô.€2001)ó ó,€such€notice€of€appeal€under€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€then€existing€did€not€conferÐ uÅ Ðjurisdiction€on€this€court€to€decide€the€appeal€as€to€any€appellant€except€for€Clark€Dunlap.€Therefore,€this€opinion€dealsÐ :Š Ðonly€with€the€case€of€Clark€Dunlap.€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€3,€as€it€is€now€in€effect,€would€grant€jurisdiction€over€the€appealÐ ûK Ðas€to€all€appellants.€However,€in€practical€effect,€this€issue€is€moot,€since€our€Ô_ÔaffirmanceÔ_Ô€of€the€trial€courtððs€judgmentÐ ¼  Ðwould€have€extended€to€all€appellants€€if€we€had,€in€fact,€had€jurisdiction€over€them.à’l1Ï  ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt6hö001s033|x(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ˜\\IB01S02\CLERKJACÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0- ù-(|G2Í$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Ë»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôéò»»Ô d(|3÷ $££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Ë»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV)ÿÿ!dxdx)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3÷ $¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Ë»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Ë»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼Ë»»»ÔÑ8€‹oXXdé»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ò ò ìàÔ‡î->ËÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@òò%ìàAT€JACKSONÔ#†¼Ë»îî-> #ԈРÓ# ÐÓ  ÓSeptember€20,€2004€SessionÐ öF ÐÔ‡X‹oX»¼ËÔÌò òÔ#†¼Ë»XX‹oõ#ÔCLARK€DUNLAP,€òòet€al.óó€v.€CITY€OF€MEMPHISòòóóÔ‡X‹oX»¼ËÔó óÐ ï? ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òA€Direct€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Shelby€CountyÐ é 9 Ðà@@øøìàNo.€CH„01„1332„1€€€€€€The€Honorable€Walter€L.€Evans,€ChancellorÐ Ó # ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<` AßÐ ‘á  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€W2003„02649„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CVññ€Ô_Ô„€Filed€November€12,€2004ññÔ_ÔÐ ŠÚ  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<]` AßÐ ^®  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓÔ‡X>|XXX‹oÔà  àEight€full„time€Memphis€police€officers,€all€of€them€former€officers€with€the€Memphis€PoliceÐ V¦  ÐReserve,€sued€for€declaratory€judgment€finding€that€time€they€served€in€the€Memphis€Police€ReserveÐ ? Ðshould€be€credited€toward€the€thirty€years€of€service€required€in€order€to€receive€an€automaticÐ (x Ðpromotion€to€the€rank€of€Captain€under€Section€67€of€the€Memphis€Charter.€Plaintiffs€argued€thatÐ a Ðdesignation€of€reserve€officers€as€ð ðpart„time€employeesðð€in€Article€III,€Section€28„56€of€theÐ úJ ÐMemphis€Code,€entitles€them€to€receive€such€service€credit.€The€Shelby€County€Chancery€CourtÐ ã3 Ðdenied€their€request€for€declaratory€judgment.€Plaintiffs€appeal.€We€affirm.Ð Ì ÐÔ#†X‹oXXX>|¡#ÔÔ#†¼Ë»XX‹on#ÔÔ‡X‹oX»¼ËÔÌÓ•ÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3;€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€Court€Affirmedó óÐ ‡× ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼Ë»àX‹o-#ÔÔ‡X‹oX.¼ËÔW.€Frank€Crawford,€Ô_ÔP.J.Ô_Ô,€Ô_ÔW.S.Ô_Ôóó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòAlan€E.€Ô_ÔHighersÔ_Ô,Ð Zª ÐJ.óó€and€òòDavid€R.€Farmer,€J.óó,€joined.Ð C“ ÐÌRex€L.€Ô_ÔBrasherÔ_Ô,€Jr.,€Memphis,€For€Appellant,€Clark€DunlapÔ#†¼Ë»XX‹oû#ÔÔ‡X‹oX»¼ËÔÐ e ÐÌLouis€P.€Britt€III€and€David€P.€Knox€of€Memphis€For€Appellee,€City€of€MemphisÐ ç 7  ÐÓÌÓÌò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼Ë»XX‹o¯ #ÔÔ‡X‹oX»¼ËÔÐ ¹" " ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼Ë»XX‹o‡ #ÔÔ‡X‹oX»¼ËÔÓ  ÓÑ8€>|XXdéXXdé8Ñà  àThis€appeal€concerns€the€question€of€whether€time€spent€as€a€reserve€officer€in€the€MemphisÐ Œ$Ü$ ÐPolice€Department€should€be€credited€toward€the€thirty€years€of€service€required€for€a€MemphisÐ u%Å % ÐPolice€Officer€to€receive€an€automatic€promotion€to€the€rank€of€Captain.€Eight€Memphis€policeÐ ^&®!& Ðofficers,€all€of€them€former€reserve€officers€in€the€Memphis€Police€Department,€sought€a€declaratoryÐ G'—"' Ðjudgment€that€their€tenure€as€reserve€officers€should€be€credited€toward€the€thirty€years€of€serviceÐ 0(€#( Ðrequired€for€automatic€promotion€to€the€rank€of€Captain.€The€Shelby€County€Chancery€Court€deniedÐ )i$) Ðthe€plaintiffsðð€request€for€declaratory€judgment,€finding€that€time€spent€in€the€volunteer€policeÐ *R%* Ðreserve€is€not€service€time€for€the€purpose€of€automatic€promotion€to€the€rank€of€Captain.€Ð ë*;&+ Ðò òÓ  ÓÌÌÐ ¨-ø(.ý ЇI.€FACTSó óÐ ° ÐÓüÓÌà  àAppellant€is€a€Memphis€Police€officer€who€seeks€to€have€the€time€he€spent€as€a€volunteerÐ ƒÓ Ðreserve€officer€of€the€Memphis€Police€Department€credited€toward€the€thirty€years€of€serviceÐ l¼ Ðrequired€in€order€to€receive€an€automatic€promotion€to€Captain.׃×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€According€to€the€Appelleeððs€brief,Ð U¥ ÐAppellant€spent€one€year€and€one€month€in€the€police€reserve.Ð > Ž ÐÌà  àThe€City€of€Memphis€charter,€Section€67,€provides€for€the€automatic€promotion€of€policeÐ  ` Ðofficers€to€the€rank€of€Captain€after€thirty€years€of€service.€The€charter€provision€reads,€in€relevantÐ ù I Ðpart,€as€follows:Ð â 2  ÐÌà8  àò òSec.€67.€€Automatic€promotion€to€captain€after€thirty€yearsó ó.д Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àAny€fireman€or€policeman,€who€shall€have€served€the€City€of€Memphis€for€a€periodÐ ‰Ù  Ðof€thirty€(30)€years,€either€continuously€or€intermittently,€shall,€at€the€expiration€ofÐ r  Ðsaid€thirty€years,€automatically€be€promoted€to€the€rank€of€captain€of€the€fire€divisionÐ [«  Ðor€captain€of€the€police€division,€with€all€the€salary,€emoluments€and€other€privilegesÐ D” Ðof€said€rank;€and,€upon€the€retirement€of€such€fireman€or€policeman,€he€shall€receiveÐ -} Ða€pension€as€captain.ÐfÐ Ð  ÐÌThe€operation€of€the€Memphis€Police€Reserve€is€governed€by€Section€28„56€through€Section€28„67Ð è8 Ðof€the€Memphis€Code.€The€Memphis€Police€Reserve€is€an€auxiliary€police€force€that€is€comprisedÐ Ñ! Ðof€volunteer€members.€(Sec.€28„56.)€ð ðThey€shall€be€part„time€employees€of€the€city€police€servicesÐ º  Ðdivision€and€shall€be€included€in€any€life€or€health€insurance€or€other€such€fringe€benefits€providedÐ £ó Ðfor€employees€of€the€city,€if€they€so€desire,€but€shall€not€be€included€under€the€civil€service€orÐ ŒÜ Ðretirement€system€of€the€city.ðð€(Sec.€28„56.)€The€police€reserve€is€wholly€under€the€control€of€theÐ uÅ Ðdirector€of€police.€(Sec.€28„58.)€Any€member€of€the€police€reserve€may€be€terminated€at€the€will€ofÐ ^® Ðthe€director.€(Sec.€28„60.)€Each€member€of€the€police€reserve€is€to€be€compensated€at€the€rate€ofÐ G— Ð$1.00€per€year.€(Sec.€28„67.)Ð 0€ ÐÌà  àEvidence€introduced€at€trial€suggesting€that€at€least€one€City€of€Memphis€official€was€brieflyÐ  R Ðunder€the€impression€that€time€spent€in€the€police€reserve€would€count€toward€the€thirty„yearÐ ë ; Ðpromotion€to€Captain.€Other€evidence€introduced€by€Plaintiffs€at€trial€indicated€that€EmployeeÐ Ô!$  ÐInformation€Sheets€kept€by€the€Memphis€Police€Department€occasionally€indicated€that€time€spentÐ ½" ! Ðas€a€reserve€officer€was€being€credited€toward€the€thirty„year€requirement€for€the€automatic€elevationÐ ¦#ö" Ðto€the€rank€of€Captain.€Plaintiffs€also€introduced€evidence€that€reserve€officers€were€occasionallyÐ $ß# Ðreferred€to€as€ð ðemployeesðð€in€various€contexts.Ð x%È $ ÐÔ_ÔÓ  Óò òÌII.€PROCEDURAL€HISTORYó óÐ šê ÐÓPÓÌà  àPlaintiffs€filed€a€complaint€for€declaratory€judgment€in€the€Shelby€County€Chancery€CourtÐ m½ Ðon€June€22,€2001.€They€sought€a€declaration€that€they€should€receive€full€service€credit€for€the€timeÐ V¦ Ðthey€spent€as€reserve€officers€for€the€automatic€promotion€to€the€rank€of€Captain€under€Section€67Ð ?  Ðof€the€Memphis€Charter.€On€February€15,€2002,€the€trial€court€granted€the€Plaintiffsðð€motion€toÐ ( x Ðamend€their€complaint€to€add€two€additional€plaintiffs.€Defendant,€the€City€of€Memphis,€timely€filedÐ  a Ðan€Answer€€to€both€the€original€and€the€amended€complaints,€denying€that€the€Plaintiffs€were€entitledÐ ú J Ðto€service€credit€for€their€time€spent€in€the€police€reserve.Ð ã 3  ÐÌà  àIn€an€order€entered€on€July€10,€2003,€the€trial€court€denied€both€the€Defendantððs€motion€forÐ µ  Ðsummary€judgment€and€Plaintiffsðð€motion€for€summary€judgment.Ð žî  ÐÌà  àOn€August€28,€2003,€a€bench€trial€was€held€before€the€Honorable€Walter€Evans,€Chancellor,Ð pÀ  Ðduring€which€seven€of€the€eight€Plaintiffs€testified€on€their€own€behalf,€and€Sara€Hall,€the€interimÐ Y©  ÐDirector€of€Human€Resources€for€the€City€of€Memphis,€testified€on€behalf€of€the€city.€At€theÐ B’ Ðconclusion€of€the€bench€trial,€the€court€found€that€time€spent€in€the€Memphis€Police€Reserve€shouldÐ +{ Ðnot€be€credited€as€service€time€for€the€purpose€of€automatic€promotion€to€the€rank€of€Captain€afterÐ d Ðthirty€years€of€service.€The€trial€court€found€that€the€phrase,€ð ðwho€shall€have€served€the€City€ofÐ ýM ÐMemphis€for€a€period€of€thirty€(30)€years,ðð€should€be€interpreted€to€mean,€ð ðan€individual€who€shallÐ æ6 Ðhave€served€the€City€as€a€full€time€employee€for€thirty€(30)€years,€not€part€time,€and€that€full„timeÐ Ï Ðmeans€at€least€thirty€seven€and€one„half€(37.5)€hours€per€week.ðð€On€September€12,€2003,€the€courtÐ ¸ Ðentered€an€order€denying€Plaintiffsðð€complaint€for€declaratory€judgment.€Ð ¡ñ ÐÌà  àAppellant€timely€filed€his€notice€of€appeal€on€October€13,€2003.Ð sà Ðò òÓ  ÓÌIII.€STANDARD€OF€REVIEWó óÐ F– ÐÓ¢&ÓÌà  àOur€standard€of€review€in€this€non-jury€case€is€òòde€novo€óóupon€the€record€of€the€proceedingsò òÐ i Ðó óbelow€and€there€is€no€presumption€of€correctness€with€respect€to€the€trial€court's€conclusions€of€law.ò òÐ  R ÐòòCampbell€v.€Florida€Steel€Corp.óó,€919€S.W.2d€26€(Tenn.1996)ó ó€and€Tenn.€Ô_ÔR.AppÔ_Ô.€P.€13(d).€The€trialÐ ë ; Ðcourt's€factual€findings€are,€however,€presumed€to€be€correct€and€we€must€affirm€such€findingsÐ ×!'  Ðabsent€evidence€preponderating€to€the€contrary.ò ò€òòUnion€Carbide€Corp.€v.€Ô_ÔHuddlestonÔ_Ôóó,€854€S.W.2dÐ À"! Ð87€(Tenn.1993)ó ó.Ð ¬#ü" Ðò òÓ  ÓÌIV.€ISSUES€ON€APPEALó óÐ ‚%Ò $ ÐÓÉ)ÓÌà  àUpon€appeal,€Appellant€has€presented€several€issues€for€review:Ð U'¥"& Ðò òòòÌIssue€1:óóó óà0 ` àWhether€reserve€police€officers€are€part„time€employees€of€the€City€of€MemphisÐ &)v$( Ðunder€Article€III,€Section€28„56€of€the€Memphis€City€Code.Ð*`%)` (#` (# Ðâ âÐ ù*I&* Ðò òòòIssue€2:óóó óà0 ` àWhether€current€police€officers,€who€served€as€reserve€police€officers€prior€toÐ ° Ðâ âbecoming€full„time€police€officers,€are€entitled€as€part„time€employees€of€the€city€toÐ šê ÐÔ_Ôhave€that€reserve€time€counted€toward€the€thirty„year€Captain€status€pursuant€toÐ ƒÓ ÐArticle€X,€Section€67€of€the€Memphis€Charter.Ðl¼` (#` (# ÐÌò òòòIssue€3:óóó óà0 ` àWhether€the€City€of€Memphis€has€treated€such€reserve€officers€as€part„timeÐ > Ž Ðemployees€so€as€to€entitle€them€to€automatic€promotion€to€captain€status€after€thirtyÐ ( x Ðyears€of€service€to€the€city.Ð a` (#` (# ÐÌò òòòIssue€4:óóó óà0 ` àWhether€the€trial€court€erred€in€ruling€that€the€phrase,€ð ðWho€shall€have€served€theÐ ã 3  Ðcity€for€a€period€of€Thirty€(30)€years,€either€continuously€or€intermittently,ðð€as€usedÐ Í   Ðin€Article€X,€Section€67€of€the€Memphis€City€Code,€means€full„time€employees€asÐ ¶  Ðopposed€to€part„time€employees.Пï ` (#` (# ÐÌHowever,€we€perceive€there€to€be,€in€fact,€only€one€issue€in€this€appeal,€which€we€identify€asÐ qÁ  Ðfollows:Ð Zª  ÐÌà8  àWhether€Appellant€is€entitled€to€receive€full€service€credit€toward€the€thirty€years€ofÐ ,| Ðservice€required€in€order€to€receive€automatic€promotion€to€the€rank€of€Captain€in€theÐ e ÐMemphis€Police€Department,€for€the€time€Appellant€spent€as€a€volunteer€member€ofÐ þN Ðthe€Memphis€Police€Reserve.Ðç7Ð Ð  ÐÌò òÓ  ÓV.€ANALYSISó óÐ ¹  ÐÓ2ÓÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÌà  àUnder€Article€III,€Section€28„56€of€the€Memphis€Code,€the€Memphis€Police€Reserve€isÐ ŒÜ Ðcomprised€of€voluntary€membership.€However,€Appellant€points€out€that€while€reserve€officers€areÐ uÅ Ðvolunteers,€they€are€also€designated€as€ð ðpart„time€employees,ðð€and€it€is€this€phrase€upon€which€hisÐ ^® Ðclaim€rests.€If€reserve€officers€are€considered€employees,€Appellant€argues,€any€service€they€fulfillÐ G— Ðas€reserve€officers€should€count€toward€the€thirty€years€of€service€required€to€receive€an€automaticÐ 0€ Ðpromotion€to€Captain.Ð i ÐÌà  àTo€understand€the€meaning€of€the€phase€ð ðpart„time€employeeðð€in€this€context,€close€attentionÐ ë ; Ðto€the€entire€text€of€Section€28„56€is€instructive:Ð Ô!$  ÐÌà8  àThe€auxiliary€police€force€shall€be€designated€as€the€ð ðMemphis€Police€Reserveðð€andÐ ¦#ö" Ðshall€be€composed€of€voluntary€membership€not€to€exceed€three€hundred€(300)Ð $ß# Ðmembers;€such€members€shall€be€headed€by€the€director€of€police€of€the€city,Ð x%È $ Ðhereinafter€designated€as€the€ð ðdirector.ðð€They€shall€be€part„time€employees€of€theÐ a&±!% Ðcity€police€services€division€and€shall€be€included€in€any€life€or€health€insurance€orÐ J'š"& Ðother€such€fringe€benefits€provided€for€employees€of€the€city,€if€they€so€desire,€butÐ 3(ƒ#' Ðshall€not€be€included€under€the€civil€service€or€retirement€system€of€the€city.Ð)l$(Ð Ð  ÐÌIt€is€conceded€by€all€parties€that€Appellant,€as€a€voluntary€member€of€the€Memphis€Police€Reserve,Ð î*>&* Ðwas€compensated€in€the€amount€of€$1.00€per€year,€giving€him€nominal€status€as€an€employee€of€theÐ ×+''+ ÐMemphis€Police€Department.€It€appears€to€this€Court,€as€it€did€to€the€trial€court,€that€this€tokenÐ ° Ðcompensation€was€paidð— ðand€the€designation€of€ð ðemployeeðð€givenð— ðfor€the€purpose€of€makingÐ ™é ÐAppellant€eligible€for€health€and€life€insurance€coverage,€benefits€to€which€he€was€expressly€entitledÐ ‚Ò Ðunder€Section€28„56€of€the€Memphis€Code.€We€note,€however,€that€reserve€officers€are€expresslyÐ k» Ðòòexcluded€óófrom€the€Civil€Service€or€retirement€system€of€the€City€of€Memphis.Ð T¤ ÐÌà  àIn€light€of€these€considerationsð— ðthe€status€of€reserve€officers€as€volunteers,€their€nominalÐ & v Ðdesignation€as€employees€for€the€purpose€of€insurance€benefits,€and€their€exclusion€from€the€CivilÐ  _ ÐService€and€the€retirement€systemð— ðwe€must€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.€We€find€thatÐ ø H ÐAppellant€was€correctly€denied€the€declaratory€judgment€that€he€sought€in€this€case.€Reading€SectionÐ á 1  Ð67€of€the€Memphis€Charter€in€conjunction€with€Section€28„56€of€the€Memphis€Code,€we€find€thatÐ Ê   Ðthere€is€no€basis€for€crediting€time€spent€in€the€Memphis€Police€Reserve€toward€the€thirty€years€ofÐ ³  Ðservice€necessary€for€automatic€promotion€to€Captain.€There€is€no€support€in€the€ordinance€or€charterÐ œì  Ðfor€their€claim€that€such€voluntary€participation€in€the€reserve€counts€as€ð ðserviceðð€for€the€purposeÐ …Õ  Ðof€the€thirty„year€automatic€promotion.€When€a€statute€is€unambiguous,€we€must€give€effect€to€itsÐ n¾  Ðplain€natural€and€ordinary€meaning.€òòSee€ò òWestland€West€Community€Ass'n.€v.€Knox€Countyóó,€948Ð W§  ÐS.W.2d€281,€283€(Tenn.1997)ó ó.Ð C“ ÐÌà  àAppellant€argues€that€the€City€of€Memphis€has,€in€the€past,€indicated€in€variousÐ h Ðcommunications€that€reserve€service€does€count€toward€the€thirty„year€service€requirement.Ð Q ÐHowever,€we€note€that€all€such€communications€brought€into€evidence€seemed€to€rest€on€mistakesÐ ê: Ðon€the€part€of€city€employees,€and€such€mistakes€do€not€give€rise€to€a€right€to€declaratory€judgmentÐ Ó# Ðin€this€case.€Indeed,€the€trial€court€found€that€ð ðthe€City€has€never€recognized€reserve€officer€statusÐ ¼  Ðfor€purpose€of€computing€or€calculating€thirty€(30)€year€captain€status€for€retirement€or€forÐ ¥õ Ðcomputing€pension€benefits.ðð€Even€if€the€City€of€Memphis€had,€in€fact,€on€occasion€mistakenlyÐ ŽÞ Ðgranted€an€automatic€promotion€to€Captain€by€crediting€an€individualððs€reserve€service€toward€theÐ wÇ Ðrequisite€thirty€years€of€service,€such€a€mistake€would€not€give€rise€to€a€right€to€declaratory€judgmentÐ `° Ðwhen€the€governing€ordinance€and€charter€are€unambiguous.€Ð I™ ÐÓO2Óò òó óÓ  ÓÌà  àOur€decision€to€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€supported€by€our€holdings€in€twoÐ k Ðprevious€cases€in€which€this€Court€has€interpreted€Section€67€of€the€Memphis€City€Charter,€òòò òBurrellÐ  T Ðv.€City€of€Memphisóó,€1989€WL€92164€(Tenn.Ct.App.€1989),€perm.€app.€denied€(Tenn.€1989),€ó óandÐ î > Ðò òòòPosey€v.€City€of€Memphisóó,€23€S.W.3d€332€(Tenn.Ct.App.€2000),€perm.€app.€denied€(Tenn.€2000)ó ó.Ð Ú!*  ÐIn€òòò òBurrellóó,ó ó€eleven€Memphis€firefighters€challenged€the€Cityððs€interpretation€of€Section€67òòóó,€arguingÐ Æ"! Ðthat€under€this€charter€provision,€they€were€entitled€to€automatic€promotion€to€the€rank€of€CaptainÐ ²#" Ðafter€thirty€years€of€service,€and€that€they€were€further€entitled€to€continue€working€in€the€rank€ofÐ ›$ë# ÐCaptain€until€such€time€as€they€chose€to€retire.€This€Court€explained€the€situation€of€the€variousÐ „%Ô $ Ðplaintiffs€in€òòò òBurrell€ó óóóas€follows:Ð m&½!% ÐÌà8  àEight€of€the€eleven€plaintiffs€were€promoted€to€captain€pursuant€to€Section€67,€afterÐ @(#' Ðworking€from€31€to€39€years.€They€were€terminated€during€a€reorganization€of€theÐ ))y$( ÐDivision.€The€remaining€three€plaintiffs€completed€their€thirtieth€year€of€employmentÐ *b%) Ðwith€the€City€subsequent€to€the€reorganization.€There€were€no€fire€fighting€captainÐ û*K&* Ðpositions€open€when€these€three€plaintiffs€reached€their€thirtieth€year,€therefore€Ô_ÔtheyÐ ä+4'+ Ðwere€advised€that€they€could€either€continue€employment€in€their€present€positionÐ ° Ðwith€their€present€rank€or€elect€promotion€under€Section€67€of€the€Charter€and€thenÐ ™é Ðretire.€All€three€employees€elected€promotion€to€captain€and€concomitant€retirement.ЂÒÐ Ð  ÐÌThis€Court,€in€ò òòòÔ_ÔBurrellÔ_Ôóóó ó,€then€concluded€that€Section€67€of€the€Memphis€City€Charter€wasÐ T¤ Ðunambiguous,€and€we€held€as€follows:Ð > Ž ÐÌà8  àWe€...€hold€that€the€provisions€of€Section€67€of€the€Charter€of€the€City€of€MemphisÐ  ` Ðdid€not€create€a€guarantee€of€employment;€that€it€did€provide€for€automaticÐ ù I Ðpromotion€to€captain€at€the€completion€of€thirty€years€of€service€and€provided€for€aÐ â 2  Ðcaptainððs€pension€upon€retirement.ÐË  Ð Ð  ÐÌò òòòId.€óóó óat€*2.€We€affirmed€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€in€òòò òÔ_ÔBurrellÔ_Ôó ó,€óófinding€that€ò òó óthe€automaticÐ í  Ðpromotion€to€Captain€is€a€guarantee€that€officers€with€thirty€years€of€service€can€òòretireóó€at€the€rankÐ ‡×  Ðof€Captain,€with€pension€benefits€of€a€Captain,€but€that€the€provision€provides€no€guarantee€ofÐ pÀ  Ðemployment€beyond€the€automatic€promotion.€In€light€of€the€holding€in€òòÔ_ÔBurrellÔ_Ôóó,€we€are€notÐ Y©  Ðpersuaded€that€service€in€the€Memphis€Police€Ô_ÔReserveð— ðaÔ_Ô€program€explicitly€òòexcludedóó€fromÐ B’ Ðparticipation€in€the€Cityððs€retirement€Ô_Ôprogramð— ðshouldÔ_Ô€be€credited€toward€the€automatic€promotionÐ +{ Ðto€the€rank€of€Captain€when€such€promotion€is€essentially€a€retirement€benefit.Ð d ÐÌà  àIn€the€subsequent€case€of€òòò òÔ_ÔPoseyÔ_Ô€v.€City€of€Memphisó óóó,€firefighters€filed€a€class€action€suitÐ æ6 Ðagainst€the€City€of€Memphis,€seeking€injunctive€relief€and€a€declaratory€judgment€that€the€cityððsÐ Ð  Ðmethod€of€calculating€pensions€of€thirty„year€captains€in€the€Memphis€Fire€Department,€based€uponÐ ¹  Ðthe€former€rank€of€captain€rather€than€upon€the€newly€created€rank€of€battalion€commander,€violatedÐ ¢ò Ðthe€City€Code.€We€noted,€in€òòò òÔ_ÔPoseyÔ_Ôó óóó,€that€our€opinion€in€ò òòòÔ_ÔBurrellÔ_Ôóóó ó€ð ðeffectively€relegates€the€automaticÐ ‹Û Ðpromotion€provision€of€Section€67€to€òòò òpurely€a€retirement€tooló óóó.€Such€promotion€rewards€theÐ uÅ Ðemployee€for€faithful€service€but€provides€no€automatic€benefit€if€employment€is€continued€afterÐ _¯ Ðthirty€years.ðð€ò òòòIdóóó ó.€at€335€(emphasis€added).€We€went€on€to€state,€in€the€ò òòòÔ_ÔPoseyÔ_Ôóóó ó€opinion,€that€ð ðtheÐ H˜ Ðòòò òÔ_ÔBurrellÔ_Ô€ó óóócourt€determined€that€the€automatic€promotion€provision,€Section€67€of€the€Charter,€is€aÐ 2‚ Ðdevice€for€enhancing€the€pension€of€those€eligible€firemen.ðð€ò òòòIdóóó ó.€at€336.Ð l ÐÌà  àThe€holding€that€we€reached€in€òòò òÔ_ÔBurrellÔ_Ôó óóó,€and€that€we€amplified€in€ò òòòÔ_ÔPoseyÔ_Ôóóó ó,€enforces€ourÐ ï ? Ðdecision€that€trial€court€did€not€err€in€denying€relief€to€Appellant€in€the€case€at€bar.€In€light€of€ourÐ Ù!)  Ðfinding,€in€òòò òÔ_ÔBurrellÔ_Ôó óóó€and€ò òòòÔ_ÔPoseyÔ_Ôóóó ó,€that€the€automatic€retirement€provision€is€ð ðpurely€a€retirement€toolððÐ Â"! Ðand€ð ða€device€for€enhancing€the€pension€of€those€eligible€[officers],ðð€it€would€be€quite€illogical€toÐ ¬#ü" Ðpermit€volunteer€officers€to€enjoy€the€benefits€of€a€retirement€tool€such€as€Section€67€when€they€areÐ •$å# Ðexplicitly€excluded€from€city€retirement€benefits€under€Section€28„56€of€the€Memphis€City€Code.Ð ~%Î $ ÐÓAEÓÓ  Óò òÌÌÌÌÌÌÐ ã+3'+ ЇV.€CONCLUSIONó óÐ ° ÐÓ,\ÓÓ  ÓÌà  àThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€The€costs€of€this€appeal€are€assessed€to€the€Ð ƒÓ ÐAppellant,€Clark€Dunlap,€and€his€surety.Ô#†¼Äi»XX•çå #ÔÔ€X•çX»¼ÄiÔÐ l¼ ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à__________________________________________Ð  ` Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,€PRESIDING€JUDGE,€Ô_ÔW.S.Ô_Ô