NJ Fire Lieutenant Files Suit Over Civil Right Claims

A firefighter from Plainfield has filed suit against the city, claiming that the fire department’s director and other officials refused to promote him to battalion chief.

Rodney Williams, a Black lieutenant with the Plainfield Fire Department, claims in court papers that disagreements with his supervisors resulted in years of unfair treatment, harassment and discrimination.

Williams, who is a 22-year veteran of the department, says his problems began in May 2016 when he was injured at the scene of a fire and taken to a hospital for medical treatment.

Superiors later accused Williams of “abandoning his fellow firefighters” and told him by leaving the scene he’d “almost killed people,” he states the suit, filed Aug. 26 in Superior Court of Union County.

In early 2017, Williams alleges he overheard his superiors commenting that participants in a women’s march “needed to be killed” and that “the Mexicans should be added, too.”

Williams complained to higher-ups about the alleged remarks and his believed his complaint was protected under the New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act, according to the suit.

However, the complaint angered his supervisors who retaliated against him in various ways, according to the lawsuit.

“Williams knew then and there that he would never rise through the ranks” of the department, the lawsuit states.

The complaint states that Williams suffered discrimination and retaliation, such as receiving unfair performance evaluations, denial of vacation requests, and being falsely written up for incorrectly packing a fire hose.

In July 2018, Williams alleges he saw a swastika emblem on a battalion chief’s motorcycle. When he took a photo of the emblem and complained about it, supervisors did nothing, he claims. Instead, they labeled Williams a racist for taking a photo of the emblem, the suit alleges.

The lawsuit claims that Williams has been passed over for battalion chief, despite being qualified for the job. Williams claims a supervisor told him he would not be a proper choice for the position because the other lieutenants don’t respect him, an allegation the suit calls “unjust.”

The lawsuit alleges Fire Department Director Kenneth Childress and other officials violated Williams’ civil rights under state law, New Jersey’s whistleblower protection laws, along with civil service laws.

The city is accused in the suit of failing to publicize or enforce anti-harassment and anti-retaliation policies. It’s also accused of failing to properly supervise the supervisors and protecting Williams from discrimination and harassment.

Williams is seeking an immediate promotion to battalion chief, along with back pay and pension credits. The suit is also seeking monetary damages for emotional distress.

Childress did not respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit. Plainfield Business Administrator Abby Levenson told NJ Advance Media the city does not comment on pending litigation.

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Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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