BREA

City officials said Thursday that they will not appeal an Orange County Superior Court judge’s decision to reinstate a Brea firefighter to his former position as fire captain.

On Saturday, Capt. Gregg Lewis will officially regain the post he was demoted from in 1997. His demotion to engineer was a disciplinary action, officials said.

Superior Court Judge William McDonald ruled June 23 that Lewis should return to work as fire captain and that the city compensate him for two years’ back pay. An independent arbitrator concluded in 1998 that Lewis was unfairly demoted and should be reinstated, but City Manager Frank Benest rejected that decision.

At Thursday’s meeting, Lewis received his captain’s badge and his new assignment to one of the city’s two paramedic engines. The city will calculate his back pay next week.