Gay Cop Wins NJ Bias Suit

January 11, 2007

HALEDON—A police officer who sued Haledon, New Jersey and several of its officials alleging that he was discriminated against and refused a promotion because he is gay has reportedly received a $450,000 settlement.

The sum was agreed to in a brief proceeding in state Superior Court in Paterson the Herald News reports.

It must still be approved by the Borough Council. Taxpayers would be responsible $30,000. The rest would be paid for by the borough insurer.

The dispute began in 2002 and the lawsuit has dragged on since May 2004.

Sgt. James Len said that once it became known in the department he is gay the work environment changed and he went from being an officer on the fast track to promotion to lieutenant to being dead ended.

The suit named then-Mayor Ken Pengitore, Councilman Ayman Mamkej and Police Chief Harold Engold Jr.

The 42 year old Len came out to his wife and children in April 2002 and shortly after that moved out of the family home.

His suit said that as word spread through the police department that he is gay officers on the force began to treat him differently.

The suit claimed officers rigged the evaluation process in which Len was being considered for a promotion to lieutenant in order to prevent him from being promoted. It also said fellow officers harassed him and made anti-gay comments.

Court papers filed in 2004 alleged that Mamkej once called over the police radio Homo, homo, homo, and Pengitore referred to him as a three dollar bill. It also was claimed that Pengitore and Mamkej tailed him in their cars while he was off duty.

The court filing said that Len asked police officials to investigate his allegations of harassment, but was refused. Instead he was handed 14 departmental disciplinary charges.

The settlement stipulates that charges brought against Len by the Police Department be expunged from his personnel file, and that any promotion practices in the future be done in good faith.

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