A police officer in Morris County who complained to state officials three years ago about the department’s communication systems not working properly has been repeatedly passed over for promotions, according to a lawsuit filed last month.
Patrolman Gregory Albert, of the Rockaway Township Police Department, states in court papers he filed a signed complaint with the Public Employee Occupational Safety and Health Agency in May 2020 about the broken radio systems.
“The portable radios and car radios did not work properly, creating a safety issue when officers were required to communicate with each other and headquarters about criminal activity and backup by other officers in dangerous emergent situations,” states the suit, filed Sept. 26 in Superior Court of Morris County.
Albert, a police officer in the township since July 2015, says in the lawsuit that his complaint compelled Rockaway Township to conduct an internal audit, which resulted in the township spending “significant funds to repair the portable and car radio system(s).”
Albert has also faced retaliation for his involvement with the police union, the suit says.
Cited as an example of retaliation in the suit, Albert was written up…
