TOMS RIVER, NJ – A high-ranking officer in the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office has filed a sweeping civil rights and whistleblower lawsuit accusing Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy and county officials of retaliating against him for exposing misconduct and challenging illegal practices inside the agency.
The 32-page complaint, filed May 9 in Ocean County Superior Court by Sergeant Peter Glass, alleges that Mastronardy and his command staff punished him for union activity, blocked his promotion, and ignored evidence of time theft and corruption involving senior officers.
Glass, a 17-year veteran and president of PBA Local 379’s Superior Officers Association, is suing under the New Jersey Civil Rights Act and the Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA)—the state’s whistleblower law.
The case, docketed as OCN-L-001287-25, seeks damages, reinstatement, and punitive awards against the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, Ocean County, and Sheriff Mastronardy individually and in his official capacity.
Clash over contract negotiations
The lawsuit details a years-long feud dating back to a 2020 union meeting, when Glass publicly challenged Sheriff Mastronardy’s claim that he could not assist with contract negotiations. Before nearly 100 officers, Glass accused the sheriff of misleading members and cited a Bergen County court ruling proving otherwise.
The confrontation allegedly ended with the sheriff snapping, “Maybe you should be the sheriff,” before storming out of the meeting.
Alleged retaliation and promotions blocked
After the exchange, Glass says he was frozen out of communications, targeted in “performance discussions,” and denied promotion to lieutenant despite ranking first on a Civil Service Commission list.
The suit claims Mastronardy deviated from a decade-long practice of promoting in rank order and instead elevated two lesser-ranked candidates—one of whom has a history of disciplinary action and was named in a hostile work environment lawsuit.
Glass alleges the retaliation escalated after he reported an off-duty “time slip” incident involving then-Captain Craig Johnson, now chief, who allegedly directed subordinates to falsify work hours. According to the complaint, the sheriff’s office failed to investigate the misconduct in violation of the Attorney General’s Internal Affairs Policy.
“Whistleblower” claims and threats
The filing describes a toxic chain of command under Mastronardy and Undersheriff Jon Lombardi, including alleged threats toward officers who filed grievances or PERC (Public Employment Relations Commission) complaints.
In one incident, Lombardi reportedly told a subordinate he could advance in the department only by “separating from the union” and “doing what’s best for the department.”
Glass argues that his refusal to stay silent about corruption, coupled with his role as union leader, led to a campaign of intimidation, stalled career advancement, and emotional distress.
Legal stakes for Ocean County
Glass’s attorneys, Sciarra, Catramone, Curran & Gray, L.L.C., argue that Mastronardy’s conduct violated Glass’s constitutional rights to free association and collective bargaining. The complaint seeks reinstatement to the rank of lieutenant, back pay, pension adjustments, and punitive damages for alleged “willful and deliberate” civil rights violations.
The case has since been transferred to Monmouth County for conflict of interest concerns.
If proven, the case could have broad implications for Ocean County’s law enforcement leadership, raising questions about ethics, retaliation, and the handling of internal complaints under Sheriff Mastronardy’s long tenure.
