The players in the city of Pacific’s ongoing drama will take their latest act to a new stage this week – the courts.

According to Pacific Civil Service Commission Chair Scott McIver, the commission will seek a King County Superior Court order to force Mayor Cy Sun to comply with the commission’s decision to return suspended Police Chief John Calkins and Lt. Edwin Massey to duty.

“The CSC (Civil Service Commission) unanimously approved a motion to pursue whatever legal actions become necessary to enforce the CSC’s Orders in this matter,” McIver wrote in an email statement Tuesday. “The CSC gave the Mayor sufficient time (until noon Tuesday) to comply with the Order, and the mayor chose not to comply. That time for the Mayor of Pacific to comply with the CSC’s Orders were given in an effort to avoid the City of Pacific incurring additional legal fees, but the Mayor’s noncompliance with the CSC’s Orders has necessitated implementing the legal actions necessary to ensure the CSC’s Orders are enacted by the Mayor of Pacific. It is the duty and purpose of the CSC’s Commissioners to ensure Civil Service Commission Rules and the states RCW’s regarding Civil Service matters are followed and enforced.”

Sun placed Massey and Calkins on paid administrative leave March 22 pending the outcome of an investigation into claims of intimidation and harassment.

On April 4 the commission, after considering an appeal filed by Calkins and Massey, ordered Sun to return both officers to duty.

Despite the City Council’s efforts to return them to active duty, Sun has refused to comply with the Civil Service Commission’s order.

Meanwhile, Sun, through his personal lawyer, Tyler Firkins, has filed a counter petition to a Writ of Mandate issued by the Pierce County Superior Court that compelled him to hire for vacant positions in City Hall.

Sun’s petition seeks to have the court order the city council to “immediately cease and desist interference in the executive branch of the government” by: approving and funding the independent investigation of whistleblower complaints in the city; approving Sun’s appointment of Sandy Paul as city clerk; and ordering City of Pacific police officers and employees to abide by Sun’s order to stop communicating with media.

The Council previously denied Sun’s request that Intravaia Investigations be hired to investigate whistleblower complaints, citing concerns that the firm had no liability insurance.

The petition also seeks to allow Sun to appoint a “stand-by municipal attorney to advise the Mayor generally on matters affecting the city, and specifically to address and litigate the unlawful conduct of the Pacific Civil Service Commission.”