Lieutenant Severide is ambushed by the Chief Riddle who strips him of his rank. A move like this would not be done arbitrarily as shown, especially since it involved a reduction in pay. The Lieutenant would be notified of an inquiry and be able to defend himself. He would likely be successful as the turnover rate involved circumstances that were either beyond his control or not caused by any mismanagement on his part. Government workers unless they are at will are protected from actions such as these, and the Lieutenants had been shown to be represented by their union in the past.