Long Hill will pay $600,000 to settle bitter conflict with NJ's first Muslim police chief
New Jersey’s first Muslim police chief has opted for retirement after he reached a settlement agreement last week with Long Hill officials following a bitter conflict that resulted in his suspension last fall.
The Morris County town will pay Ahmed Naga $600,000 to settle "all of the claimed damages, including any claims Naga has alleged for physical pain and suffering" and "any and all claims, crossclaims and counterclaims which the parties could have asserted against one another during the course of this action," according to a copy of the agreement released by the town. A third of the payment will go to Naga's attorneys.
The settlement ends a sometimes-public battle between Naga and elected officials in Long Hill that dates back at least four years. The dispute escalated last year, when the township committee reprimanded Naga on Sept. 16 and then suspended him without pay in November.
The suspension followed a Sept. 19 tort claim filed by Naga that stated the township's actions were "not only unwarranted and illegal," but were "clearly taken in direct retaliation." A tort claim is a legal notice informing a town of a party's intention to sue.
In the claim, Naga alleged that Committeeman Guy Piserchia asked the police chief if he had ties to the Taliban at a Sept. 11 memorial event in 2021. It also alleged that Committeeman Victor Verlezza twice referred to Naga indirectly with an obscene phrase offensive to both Blacks and Arab Muslims. The committee elected Piserchia to serve as deputy mayor this year.
Naga joined the force as a patrol officer on July 1, 2003, and was named New Jersey's first Muslim police chief in 2018. By September of the next year, he had filed complaints to the committee about a hostile work environment due to alleged behavior by township Administrator Nancy Malool, a former mayor of Scotch Plains. In a separate tort claim filed in 2019, he said Malool repeatedly referred to him as "Mahatma Naga."
That tort claim "was dismissed without merit," according to Committeeman Matthew Dorsi.
The continuing conflicts frequently carried over into public meetings, where the two sides argued about matters including police staffing, whether the Morris County emergency communications system was able to overcome dead spots in town and whether to reimburse the chief for an $820 purchase of office furniture.
The committee also authorized an independent review of the police force, which was completed in October. The report acknowledged the department was hampered by poor, flood-prone physical facilities and a staffing shortage.
It also cited "a number of failures" by Naga to address problems identified by an accreditation consultant. Those problems contributed to the department's loss of accreditation through the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police in the summer of 2022. Loss of accreditation "will negatively impact liability insurance premiums" for the department, the report advised.
Morris news: Homeless program, Whippany flooding, WPU among 14 projects awarded $16M by feds
'Sweet sorrow' parting: Artistic director Bonnie Monte to exit Shakespeare Theatre of NJ
The review also recommended the committee should restore the oversight authority of the department to the township administrator.
The township committee eventually suspended Naga with pay in November. Township officials declined comment at the time, citing privacy requirements for personnel matters. But a letter to Naga from township labor attorney James Prusinowski states the suspension was based on "information derived from a personnel investigation into your compliance with township policies and procedures."
The letter also stated "appropriate authorities" assessed that Naga "may be a hazard to yourself or others if you remain on the job." He was directed to turn in all his work and personal weapons, his township vehicle and township communication devices.
Reached on Wednesday, Naga's attorney, Patrick Toscano, declined to comment on the settlement. "Because of certain confidentiality provisions in the settlement agreement, all I am at liberty to tell you is that the matter was indeed amicably settled a few days ago to the satisfaction of all involved parties," he said.
The settlement acknowledges Naga's letter of retirement, effective Feb. 8. It also notes he has achieved 20 years of service toward his pension plan with the Police and Fireman's Retirement system. Toscano confirmed the settlement does not affect Naga's qualification for a lifetime pension, which he has applied for.
Long Hill Township also agreed to limit any responses it makes to inquiries from prospective employers who consider hiring Naga. The responses will be limited to the date of his employment, his job title and job responsibilities, according to the settlement.
William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com
Twitter: @wwesthoven
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Long Hill NJ reaches settlement with Muslim chief alleging harassment