White officers claim discrimination by black police director

Kathy Matheson:

Five white police officers who say they were overlooked for promotions and discriminated against because of the color of their skin are suing the department, the city and several black officials for unspecified damages.

Attorneys for the men say they filed a pair of reverse-bias lawsuits that depict the Police Department as a racially charged and hostile work environment, a situation they claim was created by Police Director Louis Jordan.

Jordan, who is black, was hired in May 2002 and basically said he was "going to punish white officers for what he perceived were past wrongs," said Florham Park attorney Gina Mendola Longarzo, one of the lawyers involved.

"There's some pretty outrageous conduct here," she said.

Deputy Police Chief Gilbert Reed said the department would not comment.

One of the civil complaints was filed Friday in state Superior Court in Freehold by Totowa attorney Steven Varano on behalf of Officers Carmen Gagliano, Jeffrey White and John Crescio. Longarzo said she filed a similar complaint for Capt. Thomas McDonald and Sgt. Amir Bercovicz, although the court Wednesday could not confirm it had received the suit.

Gagliano, White and Crescio — all of whom are eligible to be promoted to sergeant — contend in their suit that Jordan is not elevating anyone to the rank because eight of the nine candidates are white. This is despite the fact that the department is short three sergeants, the complaint says.

Jordan stated that he "wanted to hire the brothers," according to the lawsuit.

McDonald claims he was passed over for deputy chief in favor of Reed, who is black and had less seniority. After filing a grievance, McDonald says he suffered "constant indignities and petty abuses," including being stripped of most of his responsibilities.

Bercovicz contends he was one of three white officers removed without cause from the detective bureau in 2002. They were replaced by black officers, some with less seniority, according to the complaint.

Bercovicz complained and also suffered retaliation, including being given unfavorable schedules and not being allowed to teach a detective skills course that he had been doing for several years, according to the complaint.

Both lawsuits allege Jordan also threatened to remove two white lieutenants from their positions because they were part of the "good old boy network," and that he said he would "skip over any white officers" when making promotions to captain.

The suits accuse city officials of turning a blind eye.

City Manager Terrence J. Reidy, who came to Asbury Park a year after Jordan was hired, said Wednesday he had not seen the complaints but would investigate the accusations.

Jordan has been the target of bias allegations before. In March 2004, when one of the police unions gave the director a vote of no-confidence, Jordan was accused of making racist statements.

Of course, the big question here is how did this clown become police director.