A Black firefighter in Bloomfield is suing the Bloomfield Fire Department, the township, the fire chief and another firefighter, claiming he was harassed with racist behavior that went unpunished.

Attorneys for Patrick Thomas claim in a federal lawsuit filed on Nov. 16 that he was racially harassed and intimidated by a fellow firefighter, Walter Coffey, in 2023, and no actions were taken to discipline Coffey.

“It’s saddening,” Michael Ashley, Thomas’ attorney, said. “We don’t think this is reflective of the Bloomfield community, but anyone that failed to act needs to be held accountable.”

The basis of the lawsuit stems from interactions between Coffey and Thomas in November 2023 when Coffey was accused of referencing the presence of a noose at the firehouse.

Coffey is accused of asking

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