By Bob Katzen

The House gave initial approval to a bill that amends a current law which prohibits the state from certifying or recertifying as a police officer, anyone who has been convicted of a felony. The bill would amend the law by continuing to prohibit certification for a felon even if the person has received a presidential or gubernatorial pardon for commission of the crime.

Supporters say that the bill will close a loophole in current law that allows felons, who receive a presidential or gubernatorial pardon for commission of a felony, to be eligible for certification as a police officer. They said that a pardoned felon has still committed the felony and should not be eligible to be a police officer. They argued the loophole goes too far and should be closed.

Rep. Mike Day (D-Stoneham), the sponsor of the bill, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking him to comment on why he filed the bill and on its passage.

Reps. Dan Cahill (D-Lynn) and Christopher Worrell (D-Boston), the House chair and House vice-chair of the Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security which approved the bill, did not respond to repeated request by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking them to comment on why the committee supported it and on its passage.

Opponents of the bill say that if a felon is pardoned, he should still be eligible to be a police officer. They noted there are some states that do allow pardoned ex-felons to become police officers.

Neither the Massachusetts Coalition of Police nor the Mass Police Association responded to repeated requests from Beacon Hill Roll Call asking them to comment on the passage of the bill.