Paratrooper with felony pardoned to join NYPD

[unhappycamper]

Paratrooper with felony pardoned to join NYPD
By Joe Gould - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Jan 5, 2010 18:04:37 EST

A decorated paratrooper whose felony gun conviction barred him from his dream of becoming a New York City police officer has been granted a pardon by New York State’s Gov. David Paterson.

Spc. Osvaldo Hernandez will be free to become a police officer with the city police department or pursue another career in law enforcement after he returns from active duty in January, according to a press release from the governor’s office.

“This is the beginning for me ... not the end,” Hernandez, 27, of the 82nd Airborne Division, said in a statement. “I will try to live up to the faith placed in me in all that I do as an infantryman when my unit deploys to Afghanistan, and when I return home.”

Hernandez thanked Paterson “for giving me my life back,” and he said he owes a “lifelong debt” to Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli, who, among others, wrote a letter of support for Hernandez’s 100-page pardon application.

“Mr. Governor, it is my conviction to support this young man who, over a period of years, has proven his maturity, integrity, courage, and commitment to the service of others,” Chiarelli wrote.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/01/army_pardon_010510w/