A police officer in Bergen County who a judge ordered rehired after he was unlawfully terminated two years ago has filed another lawsuit claiming township officials violated his rights under state whistleblower laws.
Lyndhurst Police Sgt. Richard Pizzuti was terminated March 8, 2022, following a disciplinary hearing over six days in which he was accused of taking evidence and paperwork home with him from another officer’s arrest. Pizzuti was also accused of lying to internal affairs investigators over the matter, court records show.
On Feb. 2, New Jersey Superior Court Judge Christine A. Farrington found that a 21-day suspension without pay — not termination — was the appropriate penalty for the charge. Pizzuti was then returned to his job and placed back on the payroll.
In a second lawsuit filed last week, Pizzuti claims Lyndhurst retaliated against him after he filed an internal affairs complaint against his captain alleging harassment.
The mayor, police chief and police captain “undertook a campaign of retaliation… that included re-assignments and culminated with” Pizzuti’s firing in 2022, states the suit, filed May 15 in Superior Court of Bergen County.
The new lawsuit was filed after a judge dismissed parts of the original complaint without prejudice, and stated the issues could be “re-raised in a subsequently filed complaint,” court records show.
Township Attorney Carmine Alampi said Monday he had not seen the new complaint and could not comment on pending litigation.
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
