That's the way the city of Cincinnati feels, too.

        Cincinnati police Officer Lorenzo Law has been flying missions for the U.S. Air Force Reserve since last October. His 445th Airlift Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton delivered the first al-Qaida prisoners to Camp X-Ray last January. Staff Sgt. Law is a “loadmaster” and flies 18 to 20 days a month to undisclosed destinations “all around the world.”

Costly difference

        But because he volunteered when his unit asked for help, the city won't pay him the difference between his military pay and city pay — about $2,250 a month.

        Seven other city employees called to active duty are paid their full city salary, after their military pay is deducted, said Roshani Hardin of the city solicitor's office.

        The difference is that Sgt. Law volunteered.

        Federal law requires only that reservists be released to serve as long as the country needs them. The city is not required to pay them.

        “The city's military leave policy is very generous if you compare it to other municipalities,” Mrs. Hardin said.

        “Since there is no cap on how long persons can be gone, it makes sense to differentiate between those who are called and those who volunteer.”

        She has a point. The city's Human Resources Department lists 493 employees in the military reserves, with 233 active. If they all volunteer, the city could have to hire hundreds of substitutes and pay double salaries, or get by without them.

Checking up

        A few empty desks among the city's 6,200 workers would hardly be noticed. But most reservists are cops and firemen, who can't be spared.

        Sgt. Law has sent the city letters from his commanding officers, stating that he is on “active duty,” not training.

        But the letters also make it clear that his unit is NOT on active duty. That makes him a volunteer, not entitled to city reimbursement.

        Sgt. Law, who is African-American, complained in a letter to Mayor Charlie Luken that he is a victim of “racist and harassing policies of the Police Division.”

        He says city officials have repeatedly checked up on him at Wright-Patterson. “They call up there constantly. Nobody gets put through the wringer like me.”

        That's a shabby way to treat a guy who's serving his country. But it looks like he's a victim of rules, not racism.

        Mrs. Hardin said a new policy soon could allow him to appeal to the city manager, who could make exceptions for special circumstances.

        That would be fair. It's not likely that droves of other city workers are itching to fly thousands of miles away from their families and live in a tent in some fly-bitten corner of Osamastan.

        You couldn't pay them to do it.

        E-mail pbronson@enquirer.com or call 768-8301.

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