In April, a Navy SEAL was rejected from a job in the Fire Department of New York because he was over the age requirement by about seven months, after public outrage, legislation has now been passed that will allow him to serve.
Special Operations Chief Shaun Donovan, 37, will be able to serve with the FDNY if Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo signs the legislation. The bill increases the window for military veterans by one year and was passed by the legislature Thursday.
“There’s a special place in my heart for the FDNY. When you have that as your motivation, you want to do right by those people,” Democratic Sen. Andrew Gounardes, the bill’s sponsor, told the New York Post.
“He wants to continue to give back, he already served our country and he wants to keep serving. Why should we ever tell someone now you can’t serve?” he added.
Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio also expressed his support for the move.
“If you’re a veteran who has served this country proudly, your age shouldn’t be a barrier to continue serving our fellow New Yorkers,” he said in a statement.
