Two More Carlstadt Cops Accuse Police Chief and Lieutenant of Vicious Retaliation

Whistleblower Suits Allege Hostile Work Environment, Discrimination, and Abuse of Power in NJ Police Department

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

CARLSTADT, NJ – The Carlstadt Police Department is facing a deepening crisis as two more veteran officers file lawsuits accusing Police Chief Thomas Cox and Lt. Scott Tronziger of severe retaliation, discrimination, and creating a hostile work environment.

Officer Steven Ondrof and Sgt. Jason Colombo have filed separate complaints, joining Lt. Chris Hasch, who initiated a similar lawsuit in October. The combined allegations paint a troubling picture of systemic abuse of authority, targeting officers who speak out against perceived “lawlessness” within the department.

Officer Ondrof: Allegations of Discrimination and Career Sabotage

Officer Steven Ondrof, a 20-year veteran of the department, claims his civil rights have been violated over the past two years, resulting in a “hostile and intolerable work environment” that the department has failed to correct.

Key Allegations in Ondrof’s Lawsuit:

• Weaponizing Internal Affairs: Targeting perceived whistleblowers through the Internal Affairs department.

• Disability Discrimination: The lawsuit alleges Chief Cox and Lt. Tronziger used Ondrof’s January injury and resulting disability, which required physical therapy, to discriminate against him and interfere with his medical treatment in an attempt to push him into early retirement.

• Retaliation and Denied Opportunities: Ondrof claims he was denied promotions, removed from his teaching position and part-time detective role, and falsely berated, hindering his career progression.

• Above the Law: The suit accuses Chief Cox and Borough Administrator Joseph Crifasi of believing themselves to be above the law and acting with impunity in “crusading against officers that were engaged in protected activity.”

Eric Kleiner, the attorney for both officers, starkly stated that the defendants not only violated anti-discrimination laws but also attempted to “entrap” Ondrof and even “permanently physically injure” him by tampering with his need for major shoulder surgery.

Sergeant Colombo: The Price of Breaking the ‘Blue Wall’

Sgt. Jason Colombo’s lawsuit focuses heavily on his role as a whistleblower, having reached out to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office to provide evidence of “years of abuse” by Chief Cox.

Colombo alleges the retaliation began immediately after the defendants learned he was “blowing the whistle on Cox’s bad actions.”

• Vindictive Leadership: The suit describes Chief Cox as “vindictive and petty,” lacking the necessary moral leadership, and viewing all dissent as a threat to his job.

• Threatening Environment: A chilling example cited is an image of three blind mice with the badge numbers of Colombo, Ondrof, and Hasch being posted on the department refrigerator—a perceived threat against the three whistleblowers.

• Abuse of Power: Colombo claims Cox demanded officers write an excessive number of tickets to artificially inflate statistics, which Colombo refused to do, citing it as an abuse of police power.

• Control over Armory: Cox allegedly took complete control of the gun range and armory for personal use, which led to Colombo’s removal as range master after he reported that some officers were not proficient in marksmanship. The suit also claims Cox used this control to successfully deny requalification to all retired members to prevent one disliked retired officer from having his gun.

Kleiner lauded Colombo as a “hero in law enforcement,” having disclosed “massive acts of unlawful behavior,” but noted that he has since been effectively “dismantled as a supervisor,” facing significant emotional distress and pay loss.

Legal Ramifications

Both lawsuits allege violations of critical state protections, including:

• The Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA) (Protecting whistleblowers)

• The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD)

• The New Jersey Civil Rights Act

• Creating a Hostile Work Environment and Retaliation

The borough has not yet issued a public comment on the latest filings.

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