NJ firefighter files bias suit against department, chief

An 18-year veteran, says he has been the target of systematic harassment by his superiors

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PASSAIC, N.J. — A black firefighter has filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against the Passaic Fire Department and Fire Chief Patrick Trentacost.

Todd Pickett, an 18-year veteran, says he has been the target of systematic harassment by his superiors, who he alleges assigned him less desirable duties than his white counterparts.

Pickett says he has continually been forced to work with other firefighters who "regularly engaged in racially charged conduct."

"It was almost a conspiracy, almost an organized attempt to harass Mr. Pickett," said his lawyer, Angelo Bisceglie of Woodland Park.

Trentacost declined to comment, as did city spokesman Keith Furlong, who said the litigation prevented him or Mayor Alex D. Blanco from speaking publicly about the allegations.

Much of the alleged harassment occurred in 2007, according to the lawsuit. For example, Pickett alleges he was singled out to throw out a bottle of wine from the refrigerator, even though there were four white firefighters in the kitchen at the time and Pickett himself was in another room.

In April of that year, Pickett alleges that his lieutenant yelled at him to raise the American flag up the flagpole at the Westside firehouse, even though it was raining outside. Pickett, according to the lawsuit, complied, and members of another tour were forced to lower it later that day because of the rain.

Pickett requested transfers, which would allow him to work with different firefighters, but they were denied by the department's top brass, according to the lawsuit.

In March 2008, a supervisor allegedly told others to "write [Plaintiff] up for the littlest thing [he did] wrong," according to the lawsuit.

Bisceglie said he hopes the case, or a judgment issued by a jury, will prompt city officials to revisit their policies and how "they handle minorities."

"If the damages are big enough, people are going to start asking questions: 'Why did this happen?' or 'Why did this not happen,' " Bisceglie said.

Because of what is described as a pattern of harassment, Pickett has sought counseling to help deal with "an impossible work situation," according to the complaint.

Pickett remains on active duty and will continue to flag incidences, Bisceglie said.

The lawsuit states that when Pickett joined the department, there were three black firefighters. That number, according to the lawsuit, has increased to seven.