Ex-Ridgefield Park Employee Alleges Racial Harassment and Unfair Termination Over Licensing Dispute
Ridgefield Park working conditions were revealed by a Public Works Department employee who sued for racial harassment, discrimination, and wrongful termination. Keenon Tucker, 31, claims he was fired for not following a licensing requirement after coworkers teased and treated him differently from white employees.
Tucker, the department’s only Black employee, was insulted and stereotyped, according to November 13 Bergen County Superior Court records. A coworker called Tucker fried chicken, insulting blacks. A coworker joked that chainsaws sounded like the N-word, inciting workplace animosity.
Tucker claims he wasn’t awarded white-typical overtime. The lawsuit claims CDLs, required for department jobs, receive uneven support. Tucker self-paid $1,800 for white staff CDL training.
Tucker assisted his pregnant wife with mid-2024 NJ Family Leave Act leave. He argues the borough violated state leave laws by forcing him to work, damaging his career. That vacation letter obliged him to earn his CDL by January 1. Court records indicate older white laborers, including the township clerk, worked without CDLs for years.
Tucker received his CDL on December 19, 2024, and tried to schedule the state driving test for December 23. The earliest appointment was January 14, 2025. He said Public Works Commissioner Wanda Portorreal extended the timeline for the test. Tucker returned to work on January 2 but was fired for no CDL. Tucker felt discriminated against when Portorreal offered him a lower-paying job after appealing.
Tucker applied for NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development unemployment compensation after being dismissed. Since Tucker tried to get a license, the state authorized his benefits after Ridgefield Park denied his claim.
The lawsuit alleges Tucker was compensated and expected differently from white coworkers, breaching the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination. It claims the town violated the New Jersey Family Leave Act and Fair Labor Standards Act by requiring him to attend training on leave, punishing him for family time. Tucker’s case raises problems about public institution accountability and state employment law compliance due to systemic racial bias, unequal treatment, and procedural disparities.
This case contributes to national discussions about racial discrimination and job equity, especially in government. Remember that the New Jersey Family Leave Act and Law Against Discrimination protect workers from reprisals.
Sources:
Bergen County Superior Court filings
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
New Jersey Law Against Discrimination
New Jersey Family Leave Act
