PINTO GOES TO BAT FOR EASTCHESTER SERVICEMAN SHUT OUT OF LOCAL POLICE TEST WHILE SERVING IN IRAQ
For Immediate Release: April 1, 2005
Contact: County Legislator Vito Pinto (914) 995-2817
--- Legislator Seeks Reform Of New York State’s Civil Service Rules To Accommodate Active-Duty Servicemen And Women Who Miss Scheduled Civil Service Tests While Stationed Overseas---
Westchester County Legislator Vito Pinto (D,I,WF-Eastchester) is calling for reform of New York State’s civil service rules to allow servicemen and women who miss a scheduled civil service test while on duty overseas to take the missed test when home on leave or at the end of their tour of duty, even if they missed the application filing date.
Pinto, a former Vietnam veteran who has been a tireless advocate for veterans’ issues over his 20-plus years in public service, said he was prompted to call for reform of the civil service rules after talking with a dispirited constituent home on leave from Iraq.
“He told me that he was able to take the NYS Police test on a deferred basis but was told he couldn’t take the local Town and Village Police test, which he also missed while in Iraq,” Pinto said. “That disparity in the civil service rules doesn’t make sense---and it’s not fair.”
The reality is New York State Military Law does make a provision for people to take civil service examinations on a deferred basis but it requires an applicant to apply for that exam “up to 10 business days before the exam date.”
“Certainly our people fighting overseas to defend our country just might not be privy to each and every civil service exam filing date,” Pinto said. “If you miss the local exam, it could take up to four years before another exam is scheduled. That fact can be a real career breaker for someone who can’t wait around that long to start a career.”
Pinto is calling on the state’s legislators to rectify the situation by passing legislation that would allow military personnel who miss any civil service test while serving overseas to be offered the test on a deferred basis regardless of when their application is filed.
“The bottom line is that you shouldn’t be at a competitive disadvantage for a local police or firefighter job, or any municipal job for that matter, because you’re serving your country overseas,” Pinto said. “Current civil service rules shouldn’t be so rigid that someone serving his country is denied the opportunity to come home to serve his town.”
As an interim measure, Legislator Pinto is working with County Human Resources and the Office of Veterans’ Affairs to see that announcements of civil service exams are sent overseas to those serving in the military. “I want to give our people the best shot I can to make their lives whole after returning from the rigors of a tour of duty,” Pinto said.
