Berkeley Forces Black Officer To Resign, Denies Workers Comp: Lawsuit

BERKELEY, NJ — Berkeley Township Police Department's first Black police officer in 45 years is suing the township for discrimination, claiming he was forced to resign rather than being paid worker's compensation and receiving accommodations for a work injury.

Ravino Johnson, in a lawsuit filed June 15, accuses Township Administrator John Camera of denying him "reasonable accommodation" for a work-related injury, instead telling him to resign or he would be terminated. It is unclear what the injury was. Johnson alleges the treatment was because of his race.

When Johnson was hired by the police department on April 15, 2021, he was the first Black officer hired since 1976, and the township's only Black employee, the lawsuit said.

On May 5, less than a month into his tenure, Johnson suffered an injury while working, according to the lawsuit. He requested "reasonable accommodation" to recover and return to his job, the suit said, which is required under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination.

However, Johnson was told by other police officers to call Camera. Camera told Johnson he did not want to pay workers compensation, so he had to resign if he wanted to return to the department, the suit said. If Johnson did not resign, he would be let go anyway, according to the suit.

On June 18, 2021, according to the lawsuit, Johnson met with Camera in-person, where Johnson was handed a pre-typed letter reading:

“Dear Berkeley Township, I am not interested in the position of police officer at this time but I wish to be considered at another time.”

Johnson, fearing retaliation, signed the letter, the lawsuit said. He also demanded a copy and got a lawyer, the suit said.

Johnson is seeking compensatory and punitive damages as well as attorney's fees. He also asked for his personnel file to be cleared to make getting future employment easier.

"The Township will be immediately filing its Answer vehemently denying the inflammatory and unsupported allegations made by Mr. Johnson," Michael Nagurka, one of Berkeley Township's attorneys, told Patch. "The Township looks forward to the opportunity to defend itself, and the Township Administrator against the completely unproven allegations of a former employee seeking an undeserved windfall from the taxpayers of Berkeley."