2 More Piscataway Police Officers Allege Racial Harassment

PISCATAWAY, NJ — Allegations of racism continue to fly at the Piscataway Police Department, with new allegations made against former Police Chief Thomas Mosier, now retired.

It is now a total of five Piscataway police officers who have sued that department. Nearly all the suits allege racial, ethnic and sexual harassment ran rampant through the Piscataway Police force.

The latest lawsuits were brought by two Piscataway police officers this January, alleging they were subjected to teasing based on their ethnicity or skin color, and that they were passed over for promotions due to their race.

The officers are Tejesh Patel and Jerry Nichols, Jr. They are represented by the same law firm, Shapiro & Sternlieb of Englishtown, and both filed their lawsuits Jan. 26.

Nichols' lawsuit names Mosier and Michael McLaughlin, who was police chief before Mosier.

Patel's lawsuit does not name either police chief, but says he was subject to racist nicknames from his fellow officers. Patel said other Piscataway officers called him "Aladdin" and "Taliban." One officer asked once if his children "will be selling curry cookies or tiki masala cookies." He also alleges he was not recommended for promotions due to his race.

Nichols is African-American. He alleges McLaughlin and Mosier ridiculed him for a skin condition he had where he could not shave. He was demoted from a detective rank because of his race, he alleges.

"The Township denies the claims of Officers Nichols and Patel," said Piscataway Township attorney Rajvir Goomer. "Promotions in rank are determined through a test system which is an agreed upon part of the collective bargaining agreement with the local PBA union. Promotions are based on merit. We are proud of the professionalism of the Piscataway Township Police Department and the Township is committed to a workplace free of discrimination, harassment and retaliation."

Mosier retired less than two years into his job as Piscataway Police chief: He was hired in January 2021 and quit in October 2022.

Past lawsuits allege Mosier mocked gays and lesbians on the police force, that he favored heterosexual female officers — particularly if they were attractive — and that he mocked an officer for having a foreign accent. Two prior lawsuits made a nearly identical claim: That Mosier was notorious in the Piscataway Police Department for one particular lewd sexual act, "grabbing his genitals and rubbing them while making sexual moaning sounds in self-gratification," read one claim.

Sued By 3 Different Officers, Piscataway Police Chief Mosier Retires (2022)

Piscataway Police Lt. Constance “Connie” Crea was one of the officers who sued Mosier in 2022, saying he singled her out for demotions and discrimination because she is a lesbian. She also said Mosier often targeted or mocked lesbian police officers on that force.

That same year, patrolman Alan Barboiu similarly filed a civil suit against Mosier, alleging Mosier teased and harassed him because he is from another country (he was born in Romania).