East Orange Police Department Facing Multiple Lawsuits

Attorneys at McOmber McOmber & Luber, P.C. are proud to represent several police officers in their case against the East Orange Police Department. The Plaintiffs’ claims include allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation for voicing complaints about officers drinking while on the clock and creating arrest quotas without proper authorization. Five separate lawsuits have been filed against the same former supervisor who now acts as the police inspector and is second in command with the force and other officials within the department. Nine officers including two captains are involved in the suits.

One of the incidents, which prompted the initial lawsuit and eventually others, occurred in September 2016. Referred to as the “elevator incident,” a female police officer received unwanted physical attention from her supervisor, which she deflected and then reported to the internal affairs department. Shortly before the incident took place, she interviewed for a promotion with the same supervisor. After learning that the woman reported the incident, the supervisor encouraged her partner and her uncle, who also worked in the force as a captain, to encourage the woman to withdraw her complaint.

Retaliatory Actions Against Those Involved

The suit proceeded, and the department revoked some of the female officer’s responsibilities, including forcing her to sit in her vehicle instead of assisting in calls. When her partner refused to dissuade the woman from continuing with her complaint, negative reviews began to appear on his formerly clean record. Her uncle also refused to encourage her to withdraw her complaint and was written up soon afterward.

Other officers note suspicious activity on the part of the police department, including an officer whose negative reviews of the supervisor in question were altered to appear positive. The original review was restored, which resulted in a write-up for leaving to pick up his daughter when he had permission to do so. Due to his relationship with the female police officer, he endured several incidents of retaliation and was ultimately demoted. He and another officer were also cited for misuse of police equipment after reporting his immediate supervisor for drinking at a bar while on the clock.

Another captain engaged in a disagreement with the former supervisor regarding the implementation of an arrest quota system that he refused to employ, claiming that it was illegal. He faced retaliation several times after this and eventually did not receive a promotion he pursued.

A trio of police officers filed complaints about the hours in which they were assigned to work and working overtime without pay, which they say is in violation of the collective bargaining agreement they made. After they made their complaints, all three received demotions.

To learn more about this case, click here to read an article published by NJ.com.

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