Sayreville Police Department Gender Discrimination Case Ends with Settlement Agreement

A long-running workplace discrimination case involving a Sayreville police lieutenant has officially come to an end after borough officials approved a settlement agreement related to her lawsuit against the municipality and police department.

The settlement was authorized during a Sayreville Borough Council meeting, where council members unanimously approved a resolution allowing the agreement to move forward. The financial terms and other details of the settlement have not been publicly disclosed.

The lawsuit, originally filed in October 2023, named the Borough of Sayreville, the police department, and Police Chief Daniel Plumacker as defendants. The lieutenant alleged that she experienced gender-based discrimination throughout her career and claimed that workplace issues continued for more than two decades.

According to court filings, the lieutenant stated that she was repeatedly subjected to unfair treatment and faced resistance from male officers who did not want to take orders from a female supervisor. She also alleged that she was denied a promotion because of her gender.

One of the allegations highlighted in the lawsuit involved a remark allegedly made by Plumacker when he served as a captain. The lieutenant claimed that after raising concerns about workplace issues, she was told that she needed to put on her “big girl panties” before coming to work each day.

The legal complaint further alleged that the lieutenant repeatedly reported incidents involving insubordination, harassment, discrimination, and interference from fellow officers. Despite those complaints, she claimed that borough and police officials failed to take appropriate action to address the issues she reported.

The settlement comes after recent developments in the case. Earlier this year, the lieutenant’s attorney informed Superior Court Judge Bruce Kaplan that additional witnesses from within the police department could potentially provide testimony supporting her claims. Court filings indicated that several important depositions still needed to be completed as attorneys continued preparing the case.

At the time, the plaintiff’s legal team said the matter remained unresolved and sought additional time for discovery proceedings. However, the newly approved settlement agreement has now brought the legal dispute to a close before the case proceeded further through the court system.

Borough Administrator Glenn Skarzynski declined to comment regarding the settlement, while Police Chief Daniel Plumacker did not publicly respond to requests for comment. The lieutenant’s attorney also did not provide additional remarks following approval of the agreement.

Although the settlement details remain confidential, the resolution marks the conclusion of a closely watched workplace discrimination case involving allegations of gender bias, workplace harassment, and promotional barriers within the Sayreville Police Department.

The case underscores the continued legal and public attention surrounding workplace discrimination claims in law enforcement agencies and highlights the importance of addressing employee concerns through established procedures and workplace policies.

Sources

• Superior Court case filings referenced in the lawsuit.
• Sayreville Borough Council settlement resolution approved during executive session.
• Statements and allegations contained in the amended complaint filed April 15.
• Information provided through court proceedings involving the parties named in the lawsuit.