Gender Discrimination Alleged: Ho-Ho-Kus Police Sergeant Sues Department Over Years of Harassment

NJ Police Sergeant Sues Department Over Years of ‘Blatant’ Gender Discrimination

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ho-Ho-Kus NJ, A high-profile legal battle is brewing in Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey, as a veteran police officer has filed a sweeping lawsuit against the local Police Department and the Borough, alleging years of severe gender discrimination and retaliation.

Sgt. M. Mosca, one of only two female officers in the department, was hired in 2004 as a patrol officer. Her lawsuit details more than a decade of alleged mistreatment, claiming she was systematically targeted for both her gender and for exposing the misconduct of her supervisors.

The Allegations: Hostile Work Environment and Misconduct Exposure

Sgt. Mosca’s lawsuit outlines a persistent culture of misogyny and exclusion within the department. The allegations detail a pattern of behavior that created a hostile environment:

• Mockery for Equal Accommodations: Mosca was allegedly mocked and subjected to “jokes and animosity” simply for suggesting improvements to a downstairs bathroom to accommodate her and the other female officer.
• Targeted Retaliation: The sergeant alleges she faced retaliation after exposing supervisors’ misdeeds, including their failure to comply with laws and policies and the misuse of union funds.
• Stifled Advancement: Mosca claims her career advancement was “stifled,” including being removed from her position as tour commander and facing a “bogus” internal affairs investigation that led to her placement on an early warning system.
• Disparate Treatment: The lawsuit alleges a clear double standard, citing an example where Mosca was investigated for watching the TV series “The Sopranos” on an in-car computer, while a male officer who admitted to the same activity faced no investigation. Similarly, she noted instances of male officers browsing eBay on department computers without disciplinary action.
• Rule Changes Benefiting Others: The suit claims the department eliminated a college degree requirement and reduced the passing score for the sergeant’s exam—changes Mosca alleges were made to “directly benefited” the other officers discriminating against her.

Mosca contends the “disparate work environment was in full swing” under former Chief Christopher Minchin, with her complaints about discrimination being ignored.

Legal Fallout: Second Recent Suit for Ho-Ho-Kus Police

This is the second significant lawsuit filed against the Ho-Ho-Kus Police Department and the Borough since June, highlighting broader internal issues. Detective Sgt. Anthony Balestrieri previously sued, claiming he was subjected to a hostile work environment after complaining about law and ordinance violations.

Sgt. Mosca’s suit accuses the department and borough of violating several statutes, including the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination based on gender, harassment, and retaliation, as well as the Conscientious Employee Protection Act and the New Jersey Civil Rights Act.

The sergeant is seeking various forms of damages, including compensatory, consequential, incidental, and punitive damages, along with attorney’s fees. Borough Administrator William Jones confirmed that the borough had not yet been formally served with the lawsuit and could not comment on the allegations.

 

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