The Associated Press
East Haven, Conn. (AP) -- A police officer who quit the East Haven force to work in Iraq could get his old job back under a law that took effect this month.
Bob Nappe, of North Haven, had to resign to go to Iraq late last year because town officials would not approve unpaid leave for him. The 19-year veteran of law enforcement took a job with a private company to train Iraqi police and re-establish prison and judicial functions under a State Department contract.
State Rep. Michael Lawlor, D-East Haven, initiated the legislation, which Gov. John G. Rowland signed into law June 8. It was inserted into a bill guaranteeing benefits to canine search and rescue members who volunteered after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The provision says former police officers working in Iraq shall be entitled to return to their officer jobs, or jobs with equivalent pay and benefits, when they return home.
The law applies to officers who take leaves of absence or resign to volunteer in international peace keeping operations, or are chosen to work for companies under contract with the State Department for such operations.
East Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr. was not aware of the legislation and would not comment on it.
Lawlor told the New Haven Register that the bill was written to apply to Nappe and a few others in similar situations.
Nappe and his wife, Chris, applauded the new law and thanked Lawlor.
“I think it’s terrific, because when Bob did come back he was going to apply for his job,” Chris Nappe said. “He put it right there in his retirement letter. I don’t know how (Lawlor) did it, but I think it’s great.”
Bob Nappe, in an e-mail from Iraq, said, “It will help a lot of guys here get their jobs. We’ve already lost lives here and these cops get no recognition at all.
Lawlor said the bill had a public hearing “and went through the whole process.”
“To me, what Bob Nappe is doing is no different from any soldier who’s in the Reserves " he said. “If the (U.S.) government says, ‘We need people immediately’ to go to another country because we need it for the national defense, I don’t think people should have to worry about losing their jobs.”