Damon Jefferson, an African-American man, said he came into work once to find a stuffed monkey hanging by a noose on his desk
TRENTON - A former Trenton detective says he faced on-the-job retaliation after he complained about a threatening and racist figure left on his desk two years ago, a lawsuit filed in Mercer County Superior Court alleges.
Damon Jefferson, an African-American man and a former detective with the crime scene unit, says he arrived to work in March 2014 to find a stuffed monkey hanging from his desk with a noose around its neck, according to the suit.
Damon Jefferson, 2006 photoJefferson, of Pemberton Township, joined the city police force in 1999. He has since retired due to the incident.
The suit says the display historically constitutes "a symbol of racism, hate and oppression against African Americans in this country," the suit said.
In the suit, Jefferson said he believed his coworkers put the monkey on his desk in an attempt to humiliate and intimidate him.
"It's wrong, disgusting and never should have occurred," Jefferson's attorney Robin Lord said.
And, Jefferson claimed, it's not the first time.
He said his coworkers once posted a photo at a nearby desk depicting two men lying next to each other. A caption on the photo stated, "Retaliation is imminent," the suit said. Jefferson claims he believes the photo was put there intentionally for him to see.
"If they did this to one of their own, can you imagine what they do to people on the streets they do not know?" said Lord, who filed the suit with partner Cliff Bidlingmaier.
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Jefferson reported the incidents to the police department and the city of Trenton, both of which are named as defendants in the suit, but no action was taken, he said.
Lord said no one ever showed Jefferson the results of an internal police investigation.
The suit says Jefferson faced retaliation from fellow police officers because he reported the incidents.
The incident led Jefferson to eventually retire from the force, Lord said. "What happened to him caused him distress and an inability to trust his coworkers."
The police department at the time was under the direction of Ralph Rivera Jr. It is now under the direction of Ernest Parrey Jr., a former city police captain.
Trenton police spokesman Lt. Stephen Varn said the department does not comment on pending litigation.
Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.