William Pepe, a former detective with the Pompton Lakes Police Department in New Jersey, plans to sue the department for racial discrimination, harassment, and retaliation after he expressed concerns about department practices. Pepe was the department’s only Black officer at the time and alleges that Chief Derek Clark subjected him to a hostile work environment that led to “work-related mental health issues” and his eventual resignation. Pepe plans to seek at least $2.5 million in damages from the borough, its council, and the police department.
Pepe claims that his career trajectory came to a halt after he voiced grievances to his union about the conduct of his supervisors. He alleges that he was demoted to patrol division in retaliation for wanting to file a grievance about being forced to stay home from work for extended periods when he and his son tested negative for Covid-19. Despite wanting to file a grievance, Pepe felt intimidated by Lt. Anthony Rodriguez and Chief Clark, who warned him that the department would fight the grievance, leading him to forgo filing it. Pepe believes that he was reassigned to patrol as a result of this decision.
Chief Clark also allegedly forced Pepe to disclose a confidential conversation with the department’s resiliency program officer about his mental state, leading Pepe to believe that information was being used against him. He was reprimanded for giving away a Velcro badge from his uniform to a 4-year-old boy who expressed interest in being a police officer. Pepe states that he was singled out and received unfair treatment due to his race, as he was the only Black officer in the department at the time of his resignation.
The constant harassment and pressure from Chief Clark and other supervisors took a toll on Pepe, impacting his personal life and leading to him failing a fitness for duty test. He was required to undergo inpatient treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder in first responders and veterans. Upon returning to work after treatment and a surgery, he requested a light-duty assignment but was offered a position in overnight dispatch, which he views as further retaliation and disparate treatment compared to white officers who were accommodated with light-duty assignments during the day shift.
Pepe’s legal notice also states that he was the subject of five internal investigations for various violations of department policy, all of which he disputes. The notice alleges that the treatment of Pepe by Chief Clark and other supervisors was racially motivated and discriminatory, with Pepe feeling like he was being targeted because he was the department’s only Black officer at the time of his resignation. Pepe eventually submitted his resignation in January, citing the relentless harassment, retaliatory actions, and unfair treatment he faced during his time at the Pompton Lakes Police Department.
Despite the department’s refusal to comment on the allegations made by Pepe, he intends to move forward with his lawsuit after the six-month waiting period required by New Jersey law after submitting a legal notice. Pepe’s case sheds light on the challenges faced by minority officers in policing and the need to address issues of racial discrimination, harassment, and retaliation within law enforcement agencies.
