Perth Amboy police officer sues, claiming religious discrimination over facial hair

A Perth Amboy police officer is suing the city, police department and Chief Lawrence Cattano, alleging racial and religious discrimination.

Traffic Officer Hani Tawfik, who was hired in 2017 shortly after Capt. Roman McKeon was named acting chief, is an Egyptian immigrant born in Cairo and raised in the Coptic Orthodox Religion of which members grow beards to demonstrate their belief in God, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit alleges Cattano tried to block Tawfik from being hired, city officials and police brass allegedly tried to defame him by alleging he's stealing police department funds by authorizing the towing of vehicles on the days when his brother's tow company is providing services in the city, and retaliated against him for reporting what he sees as the misuse and possible abuse of city property and funds in violation of the Conscientious Employee Protection Act.

The lawsuit also indicates Tawfik believes the chief has demonstrated bias and discrimination against him due to his ethnicity and religion which has created a hostile work environment in violation of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination.

"We have not yet received any official documentation regarding the lawsuit, and therefore, we are not in a position to comment on it at this time," Lisett Lebron, Perth Amboy chief of staff to the mayor, said in an email.

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According to the lawsuit, Tawfik's work performance thrived under McKeon who transferred him to the traffic special services unit, but in July 2021 McKeon retired and Deputy Chief Cattano became the acting chief and Tawfik's work environment changed.

The lawsuit says Cattano allegedly has a bias and dislike of Tawfik that dates to 2015 when Tawfik first tried to become a Perth Amboy police officer. Tawfik was allegedly told Cattano sabotaged his prospect of being hired in 2015 by criticizing his civil service application to the city's top management.

The lawsuit says Tawfik had no prior interactions with Cattano before being hired and didn't know why he would be targeted.

According to the lawsuit, in July 2021 Tawfik submitted a special request notifying the chain of command of his desire to grow a beard for religious purposes. He also verbally notified his supervisor before submitting the request, which was approved by Cattano about a year later, after Tawfik was required to get a letter from his priest.

Two other officers who requested a similar exemption due to their Muslim faith were not required to obtain a similar letter, and one of the Muslim officer’s requests to grow his beard was approved in less than a week, the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit alleges Tawfik received bias treatment when he was reassigned in the fall of 2022 from using vehicle 858 to vehicle 405 which he had to share with two other patrol officers.

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"(Tawfik) perceived this act or action by Chief Cattano as an expression to undercut the fair and equitable treatment he received from Chief McKeon, because it was Chief McKeon who assigned (Tawfik) to the Traffic Unit during his tenor as chief, while Deputy Chief Cattano disapproved," the lawsuit says.

According to the lawsuit, none of the other officers in Tawfik's unit were required to share their vehicles, and the vehicle Tawfik was assigned to by Cattano was often in need of repair. And when Tawfik used the pool vehicle, Cattano allegedly ordered Tawfik, through his sergeant, to discontinue using the pool vehicle, just to harass him, the lawsuit alleges.

According to the lawsuit, during April 2023 Tawfik was instructed to change vehicles six times, including when a captain assigned him to an unmarked patrol car that the chief allegedly later had him change. Earlier this year Tawfik was conducting a funeral escort in a patrol vehicle and Cattano allegedly told him he can't use that vehicle. Tawfik explained that to use his assigned vehicle, a Dodge Charger, during that day's weather conditions could cause an accident, the lawsuit says.

Tawfik was told to use a pool vehicle, an unmarked Ford Explorer, and days later when he was seen with that vehicle at a traffic crash, the chief allegedly told Tawfik's supervisor that he cannot use that vehicle, according to the lawsuit.

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According to the lawsuit, in February 2023 Tawfik was reprimanded by his supervisor, allegedly at Cattano's direction, for disseminating an email informing other officers about streets where city laws can be enforced, which is part of his job description as a traffic unit member. Tawfik received the reprimand, but added he was just doing his job.

Last fall Tawfik was accused of authorizing the towing of about 17 vehicles because his brother's towing company was providing towing service for the city that day. Tawfik only authorized the towing of two vehicles and was questioned for weeks later about any of his calls about disabled vehicles, according to the lawsuit.

Tawfik allegedly has voiced objections and expressed criticism about tax dollars being used for a sergeant, who is close friends with the chief, to maintain police K-9 Nico who is seldom used due to the dog's deteriorating condition, and the assignment of an unmarked patrol vehicle to a retired fire captain who was hired by the chief to maintain IT equipment, the lawsuit says.

Email: srussell@gannettnj.com

Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Perth Amboy NJ police officer sues, claiming religious discrimination