Felons Can Join The Army But Not The New York Police Department

On the day after he completed a one-year sentence at the Rikers Island jail, Osvaldo Hernandez walked into an Army recruiting office in Elmhurst, Queens. He was a felon with a plan to change his life.

Specialist Osvaldo Hernandez is trained to carry an M4 assault rifle and operate a machine gun from behind a vehicle turret.

It was late in 2003. Mr. Hernandez had been convicted of possessing an unregistered pistol the year before. The Army, struggling to meet its recruiting goals, granted him an enlistment waiver for the crime and soon swore him in.

According to a letter from New Orleans Sheriff, Paul Valteau, he is willing to accept a convicted felon into the foe.

Four years later, Mr. Hernandez, 25, is Specialist Hernandez, a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division in Afghanistan.

His transformation from inmate to productive citizen would seem to be complete. His Army supervisors say he is reliable, honest and brave. Barring something unforeseen, he will be honorably discharged at the end of his 15-month combat tour this year and hopes to become a New York City police officer.

But Specialist Hernandez is finding that what the Army forgave is still remembered at home. The New York Police Department is among the broad mainstream of departments that say a felony conviction is an absolute bar to police work, no matter his exemplary military record, even in a combat zone.

Too bad Paul Valteau won't take heed when he wrote a letter on behalf of convicted felon, Stan "Pampy" Barre, III.