Lawsuit filed against Clark Township, NJ and police department over racial discrimination allegations

CLARK TOWNSHIP, N.J. — New Jersey officials have filed a civil rights lawsuit accusing Clark Township, its police department and former Mayor Salvatore Bonaccorso of years of racially discriminatory policing.

Lawsuit: State Alleges Systematic Racism in Clark Township

The complaint, filed in New Jersey Superior Court, follows a long-running investigation into allegations of racism and misconduct within the department. The Union County Prosecutor’s Office took control of the agency in 2020 after a whistleblower recorded racist remarks by Bonaccorso and police leaders. Numerous public complaints soon followed.

Clark Township Racism Lawsuit: Investigators Say Officers Targeted Black and Hispanic Drivers

Attorney General Matt Platkin and the Division on Civil Rights say Clark officials systematically discriminated against Black and other non‑white drivers. Investigators allege Bonaccorso and Police Chief Pedro Matos encouraged officers to “keep Black people out of Clark” by increasing patrols on roads leading from neighboring, more diverse towns.

The lawsuit says officers used the smell of marijuana as a pretext to stop and search Black and Hispanic drivers. State officials say the practices continued for nearly a decade. Matos and other officers remain suspended with pay.

Bonaccorso resigned in January 2025 after facing corruption and discrimination charges, multiple outlets reported.

Unheard Voices Magazine also recently reported that due to the lawsuit, officers could now be fired.

State Seeks Oversight and Damages

The attorney general’s office says the lawsuit seeks to:

• halt discriminatory practices,
• continue monitoring township
• leadership and secure damages for
• people harmed by the department’s actions.

Police Union and Township Push Back

The New Jersey State Police Benevolent Association criticized the lawsuit, calling it unfair and politically motivated.

Clark Township officials also deny the allegations. Mayor Angel Albanese said the lawsuit contradicts earlier state assessments of the department.

“The Attorney General himself in writing acknowledged not only a lack of any systematic problems requiring oversight, but explicitly congratulated the police department on having successfully instituted numerous reforms to improve,” Albanese said in a statement.

Clark Township Racial Discrimination Lawsuit Case Moves Forward

The lawsuit marks one of the state’s most significant civil rights actions in recent years. The attorney general’s office says oversight will remain in place as the case proceeds.