PASSED OVER FOR BROMANCE
LAWSUIT: Trenton sergeant lost out on job in favor of police director’s ‘best friend’ >>
TRENTON » It pays to be besties with the police director.
Cynthia Hargis, a sergeant who says she was passed up for promotion despite being the best woman for the job, alleges in a recently filed lawsuit that Trenton Police Director Ernest Parrey Jr. engaged in bold and unapologetic cronyism, swaying underlings to promote “best friend” Sgt. Kenneth Lugo.
The sex discrimination lawsuit claims Hargis was snubbed out of a supervisory position in the special victims unit because she was a black woman competing against a white man who made no secrets he’s Parrey’s ride-or-die best friend.
“Plaintiff’s background and education is far superior to that of Sgt. Lugo for this particular position given her years of experience, stellar relationship within the community and no IA [internal affairs] complaints,” the lawsuit says alleging Lugo is favored by the good ol’ boys in blue network.
Hargis’ contends police brass looked over Lugo’s alleged checkered past, which includes allegations he lied on police paperwork he submitted when he applied to a department in another state.
But it was all good because of his bromance with Parrey, the much-maligned police director whose tenure has been marred by the uncovering of disturbing body-cam videos showing him calling residents “hood rats” and footage of his cops openly discussing how to get away with using excessive force.
The lawsuit points to comments Lugo made at an awards ceremony where he publicly expressed gratitude to Parrey for being his “best friend” and described the relationship between them and their families.
Lugo’s loyalty led Parrey to pressure underlings to promote Lugo over Hargis after she was interviewed by the three-man panel of now-retired Lt. Rolando Ramos, Capt. Don Fillinger and Lt. James Slack.
Fillinger told Hargis toward the end of the May 31, 2017 interview he felt she was a “good fit” for it, the lawsuit says.
Two days later, Ramos called Hargis up to tell her she was getting the gig, and the interviewers’ decision had been passed along to Parrey, the lawsuit states.
That’s when Parrey allegedly leaned on Ramos.
“Ya’ll not gonna interview my buddy, my pal?” the police director was quoted in the lawsuit telling Ramos, referring to Lugo.
After that, Ramos told Hargis the position was being put on hold until they could interview Lugo.
Via phone Friday, Ramos sounded like he had a different recollection of the alleged interaction but he wouldn’t answer questions because he may be deposed.
“I don’t want to get caught up on this,” said Ramos, who is a close confidant of mayoral candidate Paul Perez and wants to become police director if Perez wins. “To be fair to the process, I can’t comment on this. It will all come out if it goes to court.”
Hargis, who has been with TPD since 1995, started as a patrol officer and moved up the ranks to work in various departments, including most recently in the administrative services bureau.
She touted her “stellar employment record” in the lawsuit, listing an “extensive” training catalogue, which includes courses like “police cyclist” and “protecting our children,” along with nine awards and commendations.
That “protecting our children” course was important because Hargis points out parents filed official complaints against Lugo for physically confronting high school students.
The lawsuit doesn’t say which school the students attended or where the altercation allegedly happened.
But that’s not the worst allegation laid out against Lugo.
Hargis claims Lugo applied to become a police officer in a western state but was “separated from service” when it was uncovered he “falsified a document.”
It’s unclear in the lawsuit when Lugo applied or at which department and how far he got in the process before the alleged fabrication was caught. Sources say Lugo was forced to resign from the Tucson Police Department.
Hargis goes on to explain the levels of collusion department brass took to prevent her from taking action following the snub job.
Hargis went to Capt. Mark Kieffer, president of the Superior Officers Association, about filing a grievance over Parrey’s interference.
Kieffer reportedly dissuaded Hargis even though he agreed it was “wrong” to promote Lugo over her.
Against Kieffer’s pleadings, Hargis went forward with the grievance, and it was officially filed June 14, 2017.
Lugo transferred to the special victims unit in January, according to the lawsuit, and was replaced by another white man, Sgt. Robert Carrier.
Hargis says Carrier was also “unqualified,” lacking past experience and because he couldn’t visit crime scenes while on “light duty” because of physical limitations.
Hargis says since filing her grievance she has received “unwarranted disciplinary actions.”
Hargis’ attorney didn’t respond to a request for comment, and the city’s policy is not to talk about pending litigation.