A Teaneck police officer who won a multimillion-dollar whistleblower verdict has filed a new lawsuit, alleging township officials retaliated against him again by suspending him just weeks before his landmark civil rights trial.
BERGEN COUNTY, N.J. — A veteran Teaneck Police Department officer has filed a new civil rights lawsuit against the Township of Teaneck, the police department, Police Chief Andrew McGurr and other officials, claiming they retaliated against him shortly before he prevailed in a previous whistleblower trial that resulted in a verdict exceeding $2.1 million.
The lawsuit, filed in Bergen County Superior Court, alleges Officer Glenn Coley was issued an unpaid five-day suspension on July 2, 2025, less than three weeks before his first whistleblower trial began, in what he describes as an effort to intimidate him and interfere with the pending litigation.
Officer alleges retaliation continued after first lawsuit
According to the complaint, Coley claims Teaneck officials violated New Jersey’s Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA) and the New Jersey Civil Rights Act by disciplining him for reasons unrelated to his job performance.
The lawsuit names the Township of Teaneck, the Teaneck Police Department, Chief Andrew McGurr, Capt. Chris Kurschner, Capt. Michael Ferrante and unidentified defendants.
Coley alleges the suspension was imposed while he was preparing for trial in an earlier whistleblower lawsuit stemming from his testimony about the 2014 arrest of Teaneck resident Andrea Tompkins.
According to the complaint, Coley testified during a federal civil rights case that he witnessed officers use excessive force against Tompkins after a house fire, allegations that ultimately contributed to a settlement in that matter. The lawsuit claims his testimony made him the target of retaliation within the department.
New lawsuit centers on disciplinary suspension
The new complaint alleges the July 2025 discipline stemmed from an incident in December 2024 involving an emotionally disturbed arrestee who allegedly assaulted Coley during processing at police headquarters.
Coley contends he used only the force necessary to restrain the arrestee before notifying a supervising officer. He claims department officials later distorted the incident, accused him of excessive force and neglect of duty, and ultimately imposed a five-day unpaid suspension despite what he describes as evidence supporting his actions.
The complaint alleges the timing of the discipline was intentional because it occurred days before the court ruled on pretrial motions and only weeks before the whistleblower trial began.
The lawsuit states the suspension jeopardized Coley’s professional reputation and potentially exposed him to licensing consequences under New Jersey police certification rules.
Prior verdict plays central role
The complaint repeatedly references Coley’s earlier whistleblower case, which resulted in a jury verdict exceeding $2.1 million in August 2025.
According to the filing, that earlier case found Teaneck and former police officials liable under CEPA after Coley alleged he was retaliated against for breaking what he describes as the department’s “blue wall of silence” by providing truthful testimony regarding alleged police misconduct.
The new lawsuit argues the July 2025 suspension represented a continuation of that retaliation rather than an isolated disciplinary action.
Plaintiff seeks damages and injunctive relief
Coley is seeking compensatory damages, punitive damages, lost wages, attorney’s fees, removal of disciplinary findings from his personnel file, restoration of employment-related opportunities, and other equitable relief.
The complaint also seeks a jury trial.
As with all civil litigation, the allegations contained in the complaint represent the plaintiff’s claims. The defendants have not yet filed a response in court, and the allegations have not been proven.
Key Points
- Teaneck Police Officer Glenn Coley has filed a new whistleblower retaliation lawsuit against the township, police department and several officials.
- The lawsuit alleges officials imposed a five-day unpaid suspension shortly before Coley’s previous whistleblower trial in retaliation for protected activity.
- The defendants have not yet responded to the complaint, and the allegations remain unproven.
Related: Teaneck, Teaneck Police Department, Glenn Coley, Andrew McGurr, Conscientious Employee Protection Act, New Jersey Civil Rights Act, Bergen County Superior Court
