Jury finds NJ Transit top cop retaliated against employeePosted by cjrothma February 25, first female lieutenant on the NJ Transit police force was awarded $1.5 million today after a jury in Newark found the agency's top cop retaliated against her after she complained of sexual discrimination. The case of Lt. Theresa Frizalone was one of a series that had been filed in recent years against NJ Transit and its police chief, Joseph Bober. A 20-year veteran of the force, Frizalone charged she was passed over for promotions, which cost her salary and benefits and, after she complained about that, suffered retaliation and emotional distress.William Perlman/The Star-LedgerChief Joseph Bober of NJ Transit Police speaks at a press conference in Newark in this 2004 file photo.The jury of five women and three men at state Superior Court in Newark awarded Frizalone $449,000 in lost wages and benefits, along with $1 million in punitive damages. Frizalone is also entitled to have her legal fees paid by NJ Transit and the bill for that, so far, is upward of $500,000. The jury deliberated for a total of six hours. "What the jury found is that NJ Transit and Chief Bober retaliated against Terry," said one of Frizalone's attorneys, Chris Lenzo. "'They found it was especially egregious. NJ Transit (officials) still haven't learned their lesson. They just don't get it. Someone needs to send them a message. These people have just tried to cover it up again and again." NJ Transit issued a statement this afternoon, saying "We are reviewing our options to appeal the verdict," and explaining that the agency is committed to diversity. In 1992, Frizalone, now 47, received wide attention when she became the first woman promoted to sergeant at the police force. Five years later, she became NJ Transit's first woman lieutenant. By mid-2008, Frizalone was among five NJ Transit police officers who filed separate lawsuits accusing Bober of harassment, discrimination and retaliation. One officer said the police chief punched him in public, putting him in the hospital. Another said he was denied a promotion because he was on active duty in Iraq. A third alleged that Bober has been intentionally trying to "weed out" minority officers since taking the reins of the police force responsible for the rails, trains and stations statewide. Frizalone, the first to file a lawsuit, alleged Bober denied her a promotion, criticized her appearance and, at one point, "told her to 'stop being so emotional."' The lieutenant, who has, among other assignments, held the top police post at Newark's Penn Station, said she complained formally about the treatment but the matter was not pursued. What did happen, she said, was that Bober retaliated against her by changing her assignments, taking away her authority and then putting her in command of the so-called "radio desk" communications center - "a punishment detail." Bober has been with NJ Transit for 35 years and run the police department since 2002. He earns $155,000.
