the staff of the Ridgewood blog
FAIR LAWN, NJ — A former police dispatcher for the Fair Lawn Police Department has filed a lawsuit alleging pregnancy discrimination, retaliation, and a hostile work environment after notifying her supervisor of her pregnancy.
Filed in New Jersey Superior Court on June 30, the lawsuit by Estefany Gomez names the Borough of Fair Lawn, the Police Department, and three supervisors — Brian Larosa, James Krizek, and Joseph Cecere — as defendants.
From Positive Performance to Alleged Harassment
Gomez began working as a telecommunications trainee in the Fair Lawn Police Communications Center in March 2023, after serving as a dispatcher in Union City from 2009 to 2023. According to the lawsuit, she had received positive reviews and consistent praise from her prior supervisors.
However, Gomez alleges that after informing her new supervisor, Joseph Cecere, of her pregnancy in June 2023, her work environment quickly deteriorated.
The lawsuit claims that Gomez began receiving unfounded negative performance evaluations, was denied access to essential dispatch software, and was yelled at during training. Despite submitting a doctor’s note, Gomez says her requests for reasonable accommodations were ignored — including a request to avoid midnight shifts, which she says aggravated her pregnancy-related complications.
Lack of Proper Lactation Facilities
After giving birth, Gomez says she returned to work and required time and space to pump breast milk. The suit alleges the department forced her to pump in a bathroom, which she described as an unsanitary and inappropriate space. Eventually, she was given access to the women’s locker room, but says she had to place her pumping equipment on the floor due to a lack of proper furniture or storage.
She also claims she was denied the opportunity to take pumping breaks on at least three occasions, forcing her to wait until lunch breaks, in violation of standard workplace accommodations for lactating mothers.
Hostile Work Environment and Termination
In February 2024, Gomez emailed Michele Coles, the borough’s human resources representative, formally alleging discrimination and harassment. However, the lawsuit says her complaint was not addressed within a reasonable timeframe, and she was later told there was “no evidence” of discrimination.
Despite her repeated complaints, the lawsuit claims she didn’t gain access to the essential e-agent software until June 2024—a full year after she first requested it. Supervisor Cecere allegedly admitted at that point that he had not realized she was without access.
Gomez also says her three-month training period was arbitrarily extended to a year, a requirement not placed on other employees. She was terminated on December 26, 2024, just weeks after notifying the borough of her intent to file legal action.
Legal Allegations
The lawsuit accuses the borough and the individuals named of violating the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD), citing:
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Sex and gender discrimination
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Pregnancy discrimination
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Disability discrimination
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Retaliation and wrongful termination
Her attorney, Robert Tandy, and police department spokesperson Sgt. Eric Eleshewich, did not respond to requests for comment.
Borough Administrator Kurt Peluso issued a general statement:
“Our policy is that we do not comment on pending litigation… Accommodations are made based on individual needs when necessary.”
What’s Next?
As the case proceeds in state court, the lawsuit raises important questions about workplace protections for pregnant and postpartum employees, especially in law enforcement settings. Gomez’s legal team is seeking compensatory damages and changes to workplace practices that allegedly led to her mistreatment.
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