A state park police officer who was supsended without pay last year for growing a beard, in keeping with his Muslim faith, will get a new job as a start park ranger and receive back pay as part of a settlement reached Monday in a lawsuit he filed against the state.

Muhammad Ali, formerly Christopher Letz, 27, who was on the job for six years before his suspension in June, will be give nearly $25,700 in back pay.

In addition, State Park Police will insert in its employee manual a clause that informs officers they may apply for an exemption to the no-facial-hair rule on religious grounds.

"I feel good about the settlement," Ali, of Valley Stream said. "All I wanted to do is have a little beard, not grow it down to my ankles. And that's something they should respect because it's guaranteed by the Constitution."

The settlement brings to rest a prickly case in which Ali argued that the agency's policy denied him his constituional rights to religous expression.

"While [the state] did not agree their policy was unconstitutional they agreed to change it," said Ronald Kuby, Ali's attorney.

But Assistant State Attorney General Bonnie Garone said the agency never violated Ali's rights, adding that he could have applied for an exemption to the policy, but that he committed an act of insubordination by first allowing his beard to grow before submitting paperworkd requesting an exemption.

The lawsuit was filed last July in federal court in Brooklyn. "In our view there was no discrimination against Mr. Ali," Garone said, adding that Ali will serve as a park ranger, which is not a law enforcement post.

Ali said he will use the settlement to pay off the large debts he incurred during his supsension, and that he's more than willing to change jobs.

"Priorities change," he said. "At this point my number one priority wasn't really being a cop. In any settlement both sides are expected to compromise."