Black Woman Police Director Wins $4.7M in NJ Wrongful Termination Suit
Summary
A jury awarded Sheilah Coley $4.714 million in her wrongful termination lawsuit against the City of Trenton and two city officials. Coley, Trenton’s first Black police director, alleged that she faced racial and gender discrimination and retaliation after refusing requests to favor white officers.Key Facts
- Mayor W. Reed Gusciora appointed Coley as police director in 2019 and fired her in 2021.
- Coley filed her wrongful termination lawsuit in 2022.
- The lawsuit named the City of Trenton, Gusciora, and City Councilman George Muschal as defendants.
- The jury awarded Coley $714,000 in back pay.
- The jury awarded $2 million for emotional distress and $2 million in punitive damages.
- Coley alleged that officials pressured her to give preferential treatment to white officers and applicants.
- The lawsuit alleged that Coley was dismissed two days after opposing a request to share department documents with a member of the press.
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