NJ Settles Discrimination Suit

The state will pay $4 million to settle a race discrimination lawsuit filed by 13 black state troopers.

Douglas Wolfson, director of the Division of Law in the Attorney General's Office, said each case was negotiated separately and the troopers will receive varying amounts. The money includes back pay and smaller amounts for emotional distress.

"We've taken the position we are not going to fight these cases," Wolfson told The Star-Ledger of Newark for Monday's editions. "We are past the point of trying to defend these cases, of saying they were not subjected to discrimination."

Wolfson said the settlement includes $1 million in attorney fees. Negotiations were completed in April, but the deal could not be finalized until the state budget was approved. The $23.4 billion spending plan was signed early Monday by Gov. James E. McGreevey.

The lawsuit, which was filed nearly a decade ago, alleged that the state police increased its minority representation because of a 1975 federal court order. However, once hired, the suit claimed black troopers were hazed, harassed and discriminated against in promotions.

They also maintained that black and Hispanic motorists were being racially profiled and that their careers had been stalled because they refused to go along with the practice.

The suit also maintained black troopers were given less opportunity to attend police education schools than white troopers, were less able to secure specialist positions or job transfers that would lead to promotions, called names and subjected to other forms of harassment in the barracks and on the road.

When they complained about discriminatory treatment, they claimed that no action was taken by their immediate supervisors or the affirmative action officers.

The troopers involved in the settlement and the amount of money they will receive under the settlement are: Yusuf El-Amin, $500,000; Gregory Sanders $475,000; William Sweeney $350,000; Darryl Beard $425,000; John Perry $325,000; James E. Smith $200,000; Victor Cooper $275,000; Travis Francis $225,000; Arnie Abram $275,000; Samuel Davis Jr. $250,000; Paul Sinckler $250,000; Alvin Smith, 3rd, $225,000 and Roger Johnson $225,000.

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Author: 6 ABC-AP