Bloomfield, NJ, Firefighter Files $25M Suit in Noose Incidents

A Black firefighter in Bloomfield is suing the Bloomfield Fire Department, the township, the fire chief and another firefighter, claiming he was harassed with racist behavior that went unpunished.

Attorneys for Patrick Thomas claim in a federal lawsuit filed on Nov. 16 that he was racially harassed and intimidated by a fellow firefighter, Walter Coffey, in 2023, and no actions were taken to discipline Coffey.

“It’s saddening,” Michael Ashley, Thomas’ attorney, said. “We don’t think this is reflective of the Bloomfield community, but anyone that failed to act needs to be held accountable.”

The basis of the lawsuit stems from interactions between Coffey and Thomas in November 2023 when Coffey was accused of referencing the presence of a noose at the firehouse.

Coffey is accused of asking Thomas if he saw a noose on an upstairs table in a firehouse on Nov. 8, 2023, according to the complaint.

Thomas asked why he would want to see that and asked if Coffey knew who was responsible, but Coffey smirked and replied that he didn’t know, according to the complaint.

As another training exercise held on Nov. 16, 2023, was ending, Coffey is accused of tying a hangman’s noose, tossing it at Thomas and asking him to identify the type of knot it was, according to the complaint.

Thomas responded that he knew exactly what the knot was and asked Coffey if he thought it was funny, according to the complaint. Coffey continued laughing, according to the complaint.

Attorneys for Thomas said the Nov. 16, 2023, incident happened in front of other firefighters and supervisors.

Coffey also openly used the n-word around other Black colleagues and was never disciplined, according to the complaint.

Coffey’s actions were briefly investigated by Bloomfield officials before being turned over to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, according to the complaint.

Bloomfied’s municipal attorney, Khalifah L. Shabazz, said Monday in a statement that the township’s internal investigation was paused when the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office took over the case, investigating it as a possible hate crime.

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office charged Coffey with fourth-degree harassment and intimidation on Dec. 14, 2023, court records show.

Coffey was indicted in March 2024 and pleaded not guilty, according to court records. He has been placed into the pre-trial intervention program and has been on unpaid leave with the Bloomfield Fire Department since he was charged in November 2023.

Coffey did not have an attorney listed in federal court documents on Monday.

Bloomfield officials resumed their internal investigation in 2025 after Coffey’s criminal proceedings closed, Shabazz said.

“The township of Bloomfield takes seriously its responsibility to ensure a safe and respectful workplace for all employees,” Bloomfield Mayor Jenny Mundell said in a statement on Nov. 18. “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.”

Mundell said that Coffey’s racial harassment was immediately reported to law enforcement in November 2023 and moved to terminate his employment with the fire department, which is still pending.

Coffey has not returned to work since November 2023, Mundell said in her statement.

“As mayor, I want the community to know that conduct like this will never be ignored or permitted in Bloomfield,” Mundell added.

Several people, including Thomas’ attorney, advocacy groups, politicians and advocacy groups announced the lawsuit’s existence on Monday afternoon at a press conference.

“It was a despicable act what Coffey did because the noose is symbol of racial terrorism,” Larry Hamm, of People’s Organization for Progress, said. “Coffey must be fired.”

Hamm also said that the Fire Chief, Lou Venezia, did not act swiftly enough and that the mayor at the time, Michael Venezia, must be held accountable.

“I can’t imagine the kind of trauma Thomas and his family have had to endure as a result of this incident,” Hamm added.

The New Jersey Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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