News

Hispanic Hoboken cops settle discrimination lawsuit, according to attorney

Published June 29, 2011

Five Hispanic cops who filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against the police department and the city have reached a settlement, according to a press release by the Newark law firm that represents them.

A press conference to announce the settlement is scheduled for tomorrow at noon at the Hilton Gateway Hotel in Newark, according to the press release by the law firm Ginarte, O’Dwyer, Gonzalez, Gallardo, and Winograd.

The five Hispanic police officers, former members of the department’s now-disbanded S.W.A.T. team, alleged they were subjected to racial slurs and racially motivated mistreatment.

Some of the incidents occurred during S.W.A.T. team relief missions to New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The leading perpetrator, according to the lawsuit, was former S.W.A.T. unit leader Lt. Angelo Andriani, who was photographed cavorting with Hooters waitresses and topless women during the so-called mercy missions to the south.

Andriani allegedly used the “n-word” and donned a napkin pretending to represent a Ku Klux Klansman, according to the lawsuit.

Andriani was eventually suspended without pay by the city after he caused a disturbance at an airport in Tampa, Fla.

The complaint alleged that the officers were retaliated against after they complained
about the discriminatory conduct.

The press conference is scheduled for noon, at the Hilton Gateway Hotel
at Newark Penn Station, During the press conference, the five police officers and their attorneys will announce the settlement of this case and will answer questions from the media.

No details were released about the settlement.

By The Jersey Journal The Jersey Journal