Former new jersey cop alleges retaliation for opposing ticket quotas

POMPTON LAKES, NJ – William Pepe, the sole black officer in the Pompton Lakes Police Department at the time, has announced his intention to file a lawsuit against the borough, its council, and the police department, citing allegations of discrimination, retaliation, and a hostile work environment.

NBC reported that Pepe claims these issues severely impacted his mental health and led to his constructive termination—a situation where an employee feels compelled to resign due to an employer’s behavior.

At 41 years old, Pepe, also an Army veteran, recounts a particular incident where Police Chief Derek Clark reprimanded him for not issuing enough traffic tickets, an event Pepe views as part of ongoing disparate treatment. The legal notice of tort claim outlines Pepe’s allegations, including his career stalling after raising concerns about supervisor conduct with his union. He plans to seek at least $2.5 million in damages.

Pepe’s legal move comes after a year of experiencing what he describes as severe race and disability discrimination, and relentless retaliation, pushing him towards resignation. The Pompton Lakes Police Department, consisting of 24 officers, declined to comment on the claim. However, Erik DeLine, the borough council president, dismissed the allegations as entirely false, stating the Borough plans to defend itself and its officers vigorously.

Pepe joined the police department in 2015, was promoted to detective, assigned to the narcotics task force, and served as a firearms instructor. He alleges his reassignment back to patrol in 2021 was retaliatory, linked to his expressed intent to file a grievance regarding being forced to use sick days when his son, who tested negative for Covid-19, was ill.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.