Bloomfield Parts Ways With Firefighter After Racial Bias Lawsuit Involving Noose
BLOOMFIELD, NJ — A Caucasian firefighter who handed his Black colleague a noose – setting off a $25 million lawsuit – is no longer working for Bloomfield, the town's mayor announced Friday.
"I can now confirm that the firefighter involved in the November 2023 incident is no longer employed by the Township of Bloomfield," Mayor Jenny Mundell said.
"The situation was handled through the appropriate administrative process, which has now concluded," she added.
Last month, a Bloomfield firefighter
Patrick Thomas, a Black man who serves on the Bloomfield Fire Department, originally announced his claims about racial intimidation in 2023. Thomas told NBC New York that his co-worker, Walter Coffey,
"This is a noose," he replied. "This is what people used to hang my ancestors from trees."
Thomas alleged that a similar incident took place the previous week before a training class, when Coffey asked him if he wanted to see a noose that was upstairs on a table.
The township referred the incident to law enforcement to be investigated as a potential hate crime after it was reported on Nov. 16, 2023. The Essex County Prosecutor's Office conducted an investigation, eventually charging and indicting Coffey for bias intimidation.
Coffey was immediately suspended without pay and prohibited from returning to duty – although he remained employed with the Bloomfield Fire Department pending official termination.
Here's why, Bloomfield Township Attorney Khalifah Shabazz previously explained:
"Once the matter became the subject of a criminal investigation, the prosecutor's office directed the township to pause its internal investigation to avoid compromising the criminal case—standard practice in situations where both criminal and employment matters are pending. During this period, township officials also acted under legal guidance to limit any direct communication with involved parties to ensure the integrity of both processes. The criminal proceedings concluded in 2025, allowing the township to finalize its internal investigation and subsequent disciplinary proceedings."
"It is essential for the public to understand that civil service law mandates due process before final discipline can be imposed," Shabazz said. "While this process can extend the timeline, it ensures that any disciplinary action taken is lawful, enforceable, and less vulnerable to appeal."
"These requirements protect the legal integrity of the ultimate disciplinary action and ensure that discipline, once issued, complies with the law," Shabazz added.
LAWSUIT
Thomas' attorneys filed a lawsuit in federal court over the incidents in November.
According to the lawsuit, Coffey has been employed with the BFD for nearly 25 years.
Thomas' lawyers allege that Coffey has used the term "n*****" in the presence of African American firefighters on "numerous occasions," but never faced discipline from his superiors.
The lawsuit says that at the time of the incidents, only four out of nearly 80 Bloomfield firefighters were Black – although nearly 20 percent of the town's population was African American.
Thomas is seeking $25 million in compensation for "loss of liberty, emotional distress, humiliation, loss of property, costs and expenses, and other damages and injuries."
Mundell released a
"The Township of Bloomfield takes seriously its responsibility to ensure a safe and respectful workplace for all employees," the mayor said. "There is absolutely no place for racist conduct or discrimination of any kind in the township or in any workplace in our community, and such behavior will be met with swift accountability."
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'RACISM IS WRONG AND UNACCEPTABLE'
A group of elected officials and civil rights advocates held a press conference in support of Thomas at Bloomfield City Hall on Nov. 24.
Attendees included New Jersey Sen. Britnee Timberlake (NJ-34), who had written a message of solidarity with Thomas a few days prior.
"Mr. Thomas, if no one else has apologized, let me be the first,"
"This is absolutely unacceptable, deeply disturbing, and profoundly tragic," Timberlake continued. "Accountability must be enforced, and firings must occur. The image of a noose is not just a symbol – it carries the weight of America's darkest history of racial violence and intimidation. It represents generations of terror inflicted upon innocent Black people (men, women, and children), and its appearance today is a stark reminder that we must confront racism directly and without hesitation."
Other supporters of Thomas included the NAACP Oranges-Maplewood branch, which issued a
"Racism is wrong and unacceptable," the group wrote. "Full stop."
"What many have now seen via the 2023 video, leaves little room to doubt the severity of what Mr. Thomas experienced," the NAACP Oranges-Maplewood continued. "While we both understand and believe in due process, our greatest concern lies in the cultivation of the Bloomfield Fire Department's work environment, which seemingly allowed multiple incidents to take place in such a comfortable and nonchalant manner."
"The noose has knowingly been used both directly and symbolically throughout American history to racially lynch, kill, terrorize and threaten Black people, along with other racial or ethnic minority Americans, and their allies," the group said. "So, in what 'zero tolerance policy of racist conduct' community, would someone of such stature feel comfortable to joke with anyone – let alone a Black man – about a noose?"
MAYOR: 'FIREFIGHTER IS NO LONGER EMPLOYED BY BLOOMFIELD'
Mundell provided three updates on the situation this week.
"I have been advised that while a legal hearing process is ongoing, we should avoid making further public statements in order to protect the integrity of the hearing's findings. Bloomfield will not stand for racism in any form, and we remain firmly committed to pursuing accountability. Once the hearing reaches its conclusion and a determination is made, we will share more information with the community. Our priority is to ensure that every Township of Bloomfield resident and employee lives and works in a respectful and inclusive environment."
"It is of utmost importance to me to fulfill my commitment to transparency. Though I am limited by New Jersey law regarding details of personnel matters, with reference to the matter of the Bloomfield Fire Department, I can now confirm that the firefighter involved in the November 2023 incident is no longer employed by the Township of Bloomfield. The situation was handled through the appropriate administrative process, which has now concluded."
"Racism has no home in Bloomfield, and we will always stand firmly against it. I am deeply grateful to our residents for their engagement and honesty throughout this difficult moment. I hear the community's concerns, and I understand the pain and frustration this has caused. But rooting out racism takes more than a single action, it is continuous work, and I am committed to doing that work every day. Since November 2024, I have worked alongside the town council and administration to make it a priority to strengthen anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training, diversify our boards and committees, ensure fair opportunities in hiring practices, and begun regular evaluations of departmental practices to help prevent misconduct. Additionally, we are working to implement an anonymous reporting process for employees to safely raise concerns. I will also be forming a Mayor's Clergy Advisory Council to help ensure information from trusted sources is available through multiple channels to our community, among other ways community leaders outside elected government can help advise and take part in building the community in which we want to live. My administration remains committed to rooting out racism and holding those who engage in hateful behavior accountable so that every resident and employee in Bloomfield can live and work with safety, dignity, and respect."
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