Steven Stryker says he was forced into early retirement
By: Nick Norlen
PLAINSBORO Legal proceedings have begun in a lawsuit filed by a former Plainsboro police officer who alleges that harassment forced him into early retirement, his attorney said Thursday.
The lawsuit filed Jan. 25 by Steven Stryker, who was a member of the department from 1987 to 2006, names Plainsboro Township, the New Jersey State Patrolman’s Benevolent Association Local 319 and association president Nick Procaccini as defendants.
The suit, which will be heard by the Superior Court of New Jersey in Middlesex County, includes claims that Mr. Stryker "suffered a substantial loss in pension monies and benefits" as a result of an early retirement forced by the fact that the "Plainsboro Township Police Department had failed to protect him from his harassers."
The suit identifies those harassers as some of Mr. Stryker’s fellow officers and members of the PBA Local 319.
Among the allegations included in the suit are that Mr. Stryker was the victim of "harassing notes and letters," "vandalism to his personal belongings," and written and verbal threats.
The suit claims that such harassment began in 1993 when Mr. Stryker informed police department officials that he was a recovered alcoholic "and would be willing to serve as a resource person in the department for officers with problems in their lives, particularly substance abuse."
After that, the document says, Mr. Stryker was harassed about his alcoholism and allegations that he was gay.
In addition, the suit alleges that Mr. Stryker was harassed by PBA Local 319 members in 1999 after he refused to participate in a "no-fly zone" that the document says was ordered by union officials.
"A ‘no-fly zone’ is a slang for illegal, concerted action by police officers instead of a strike whereby officers refuse to enforce motor vehicle laws and write traffic tickets," the document says.
Mr. Stryker was expelled from the union in 2006, the document states, and "went out on sick leave on or about January 1, 2006 as a result of the stress, post traumatic stress disorder and depression which were all job related."
When he returned from leave in June 2006, the harassment continued, the suit alleges.
The document states that Mr. Stryker is seeking relief including reinstatement to the police union. and "further relief as may be warranted in the circumstances."
Mr. Stryker’s attorney, William Buckman, said defendants have started filing answers to the lawsuit. "It won’t reach trial for a while," he said.
Although he said Mr. Buckman has advised him not to comment extensively on the case, Mr. Stryker said he wants the public to know about the incidents that he said occurred.
"I want to say a whole bunch because there’s a whole bunch going on here," "I’ve been harmed by them for about 12 years I’ve put up with it. I just want it to stop. I don’t care if I win any money," he said.
Township Administrator Robert Sheehan did not return calls seeking comment.
Mr. Procaccini could not be reached for comment.

