New Jersey Firefighter Sues Over Noose Incident, Citing Civil Rights Violations
A Bloomfield firefighter filed a federal lawsuit alleging racial discrimination and a hostile work environment due to a coworker’s actions during training sessions. The complaint, filed on November 16, 2025, details two incidents where the coworker, Walter Coffey, displayed and threw a noose at the plaintiff, accompanied by racial slurs. Despite the incidents, which occurred in November 2023, and subsequent criminal charges against Coffey, the firefighter claims the Bloomfield Fire Department failed to take appropriate disciplinary action. The plaintiff alleges emotional and psychological distress, seeking $25 million in damages, citing violations of federal and state civil rights laws.
John Q. Hosedrinker