Patrick Thomas, an African American firefighter from Bloomfield, New Jersey, has filed a $25 million lawsuit claiming he endured repeated acts of racist harassment inside the Bloomfield Fire Department — including being handed a noose during a training session in an incident that was recorded on camera.
According to EURweb, Thomas, who is Black, says the harassment escalated during a rope and rappelling training exercise in 2023. According to his account, fellow firefighter Walter Coffey tied a noose, approached him laughing, and said, “I want you to figure out what kind of knot this is.” Thomas told him directly, “I know exactly what this is. This is a noose. This is what people used to hang my ancestors from trees.” He says Coffey continued laughing even after being confronted.
Several firefighters witnessed the moment, Thomas said, including his captain, who appeared visibly shocked. “My Captain and another firefighter came to check on me. I could tell by the look in their faces they were in disbelief,” he recalled.
Thomas also reported that the noose incident was not the first time Coffey behaved inappropriately. Just a week earlier, he says Coffey told him, “‘Hey Thomas, there’s a noose upstairs on the table,’” before laughing when Thomas questioned why he would want to see something so offensive. The lawsuit further alleges that Coffey has used the N-word in front of African American firefighters “on numerous occasions” without facing disciplinary action.
The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office investigated and charged Coffey with bias intimidation. He has been suspended without pay and remains employed only while legal termination proceedings move forward.
In his lawsuit, Thomas is seeking damages for emotional distress, humiliation, loss of liberty, and other harm related to the racially hostile work environment he says he endured. Bloomfield Mayor Jenny Mundell issued a statement condemning the behavior and affirming the township’s zero-tolerance stance on discrimination. “Racial harassment not only violates the law, but it also violates our core commitments to safety, dignity, and respect,” she said, adding that Coffey’s suspension and pending termination reflect the township’s commitment to accountability.
SOURCE: blacknews.com