Dozens of police officers in Paterson face demotion amid court battle over 2019 sergeant's exam
PATERSON, New Jersey (WABC) -- The city of Paterson is bracing for a possible upheaval within its police ranks as the New Jersey Civil Service Commission moves to invalidate the department's 2019 sergeant's exam.
At least 31 superior police officers in Paterson and 76 others in Newark who passed the 2019 civil service exam and were promoted to sergeant now face demotion to patrol officer.
"We cannot allow civil service to put their fingers on the scales of these exams in affecting our lives, and also affecting the safety of our community," said Angel Jimenez of the Police Benevolent Association.
The president of the Paterson Police Union announced 106 officers have filed a lawsuit demanding the New Jersey Civil Service Commission reverse a November 10th order to invalidate the 2019 police exam. City leaders say any promotion since then has now been deemed conditional.
"It could potentially compromise public safety in Paterson. It would put people in peril because you're talking about sergeants, lieutenants and in some cases a captain where they have knowledge that no one else has," Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh said.
The mandate stems from a court battle over the civil service commission's decision to discount the last 10 questions from the 2019 exam. That decision was made after people had already taken the test.
According to court records, civil service officials decided the 10 questions should not be scored due to racial disparity concerns with the results.
Lt. Troy Allen, who took the test, disagrees.
"I think the last set of questions was in regards to the attorney general guidelines and pretty much anybody that ever studied the books including everybody that's in this room, it's black and white," Allen said.
Now Allen is forced to retake the sergeant test and pass to maintain his position. Instead of months to study, the lieutenant has just weeks.
"These books come out every year, the law enforcement handbook, you know, nothing's the same from 2019-2020, and right now we're 2025," Allen said. "There's been so much added laws that's been put in those books."
Union officials say this poses an operational nightmare with no easy way to refill the positions if it came to that.
"You're eliminating basically 60% of my supervisors on patrol. I mean, that's devastating," Jimenez said.
City leaders say the new test will take place in February.
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