Should a soldier who served in Afghanistan be able to join the police force? Well, not in New York City, when the soldier in question has a previous gun possession convictions The New York Times looks at a machine gun-wielding active duty soldier who can't apply to the NYPD when he returns home.
Specialist Osvaldo Hernandez is a paratrooper with the Army's 82nd Airborne Division, set to be honorably discharged after his 15-month tour of duty. Regardless of respect in a combat zone, he is disqualified from New York's Finest after undercover cops found an unregistered pistol under his driver's seat in 2003 - a Class D felony.
Hernandez, who had no prior criminal record, says a friend recently gave him the .380-caliber semiautomatic pistol, which he kept for protection in his Queens neighborhood. While serving a year at Rikers, he was mentored by an Army Ranger and decided to enlist. As for his conduct as a soldier, the Times notes his "Army supervisors say he is reliable, honest and brave."
However, though the NYPD often favors military veteran status when recruiting officers (even waiving the 60 college credit requirement), felony convictions cannot be overlooked, even when NYPD recruiting is at a low. Given the police departments scrutiny and potential for criminals to launder their past, police departments almost always avoid hiring people with felony records. In addition, felony convictions also mean one is restricted from possessing firearms.
In the end, it's a personal Catch-22. Getting caught with a gun resulted in Hernandez joining the military and finding a purpose in his life. That same event seems to prevent him from attaining those goals when he returns, after wielding a variety of weapons for 15 months serving his country in a combat zone.
And the NYPD messageboard NYPD Rant has a variety of thoughts on the matter.
