the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Pompton Lakes NJ, a former Pompton Lakes police officer has filed a lawsuit against the borough and police department, alleging he was subjected to retaliation, discrimination, and a hostile work environment after exposing misconduct and engaging in union activities.
Officer Claims Retaliation for Exposing Ticket Quotas
William Pepe, who joined the department in 2015, says his career was derailed after he refused to participate in what he describes as an illegal ticket quota system. According to his lawsuit, Police Chief Derek Clark and Captain Anthony Rodriguez pressured officers to issue more tickets, claiming that the mayor and council expected increased revenue.
Pepe alleges that when he failed to meet these quotas, he was:
✔ Threatened with a Performance Improvement Plan
✔ Forced to ride with a supervisor, a requirement not imposed on white officers
✔ Removed from the detective bureau
Allegations of Harassment and Union Retaliation
Pepe further claims that after speaking out at a Police Benevolent Association (PBA) meeting, Chief Clark ramped up harassment, including:
✔ Sabotaging Pepe’s transfer application to the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office
✔ Leaking confidential union discussions
✔ Unfairly suspending Pepe for missing a discretionary event
The lawsuit also details allegations that Clark and Rodriguez engaged in unfair labor practices and discouraged officers from reporting mental health issues.
Discrimination Claims: Race and Disability
Pepe, who was the only Black officer on the force, says he faced racial discrimination and was denied the same accommodations given to white officers. When he suffered serious health issues, including brain surgery in 2023, he was allegedly:
✔ Denied light duty despite medical approval
✔ **Forced to choose between working irregular shifts or filing for disability
✔ Had private medical information shared by Chief Clark during a supervisor training
Internal Affairs Investigations and Resignation
Pepe’s lawsuit describes a pattern of retaliatory Internal Affairs investigations, alleging he was targeted with baseless complaints for:
❌ Having tattoos
❌ Alleged misconduct on service calls
❌ Issues with body-worn camera footage
After his suspension, Pepe says he resigned, but even after leaving, he was blacklisted—officers were reportedly forbidden from contacting him, and one officer was fired for maintaining communication with him.
Legal Battle Moving Forward
While Borough Administrator Michael Carelli confirmed that a tort claim was received, he stated that no formal lawsuit had been filed. Police Chief Derek Clark has not commented on the allegations.
This lawsuit raises serious questions about police department culture, workplace discrimination, and whistleblower protections in Pompton Lakes. As the case unfolds, it could have wide-reaching implications for law enforcement accountability in New Jersey.
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Typical when in doubt ‘play the race card’
Was this another DEI hire?
The BS about tattoos is all you need to know. It seems that so many cops are FULL of tattoos no matter what their ethnicity
Cops are crybabies.
You know it’s funny you go back 20years or more and you had a bunch of tattoos on you or piercings, and a Harley Davidson you were getting pulled over and they would break your balls. Now talk about flip-flop most cops have tattoos, some happy piercings and a lot of them have Harley Davidson. Isn’t that funny?