Bergenfield Officer Wins Lawsuit Over Military Service Discrimination

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Bergenfield NJ, Patrol Officer Jessica Lynn Hunter has won a significant legal victory against the Bergenfield Police Department, securing a six-figure settlement after a jury ruled in her favor. The lawsuit, filed in 2021, alleged discrimination, retaliation, and a hostile work environment due to her service in the New Jersey National Guard.

Jury Rules in Favor of Officer Hunter

A Bergen County judge finalized the verdict, awarding Hunter $190,000 in emotional distress damages and $318,000 in punitive damages. Her case claimed that she was denied paid leave while fulfilling her military obligations, violating New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination (LAD).

The jury ruled in her favor on all three counts:
✅ Hostile work environment
✅ Retaliation
✅ Disparate treatment discrimination

However, the claims against Police Chief Mustafa Rabboh and Captain John Maggi were dismissed.

Hunter: “Vindicated and Validated”

Hunter expressed her gratitude for the ruling, stating:

“Throughout my career in the military and as a police officer, I have always focused on doing my duty—first, always, and without exception or favor. I am so thankful to see that same commitment to duty from the jurors who decided my case.”

Her attorney, Kevin Barber, emphasized the importance of the verdict, calling it a powerful message for service members:

“The jury’s verdict sends a clear and loud message that New Jerseyans value service members and will protect them from mistreatment and punish those who mistreat them.”

Bergenfield PD’s Military Leave Policy Violated State Law

In May 2023, Hunter had already won a partial summary judgment, with a judge ruling that the Bergenfield Police Department’s military leave policy violated New Jersey state law.

The department’s policy incorrectly defined a workday as 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, for officers on military leave. However, Hunter worked under a Pitman schedule—a rotation of 12-hour shifts with alternating workdays and days off. This caused her to lose compensatory time, an issue that the court recognized as unlawful.

Broader Issues with Military Discrimination in Law Enforcement

Hunter’s case is not the first military service discrimination lawsuit involving a North Jersey police department.

🔹 In 2019, Bloomfield was ordered to pay $1 million to two officers falsely accused of lying about their Air Force military leave.
🔹 In Clifton, officers protested a 2019 mandate requiring them to provide government pay stubs, a policy that was later withdrawn.

What’s Next?

While Chief Rabboh has yet to comment, this case highlights ongoing issues surrounding military service rights within local law enforcement. Hunter’s victory sets a legal precedent for service members facing workplace discrimination.

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