February 1, 2021
A third lawsuit has been filed against Glen Ridge Police Chief Shelia Byron-Lagattuta by Sgt. Ryan Schwartz, a Glen Ridge police officer, who claims the police chief has been harassing him for years.
In August 2020, Glen Ridge paid out $675,000 to Merritt Carr, who filed suit against the police and Borough of Glen Ridge in 2016, alleging harassment and intimidation by Chief Shelia Byron-Lagattuta.
In 2017, a lawsuit, by a former personal assistant of Byron-Lagattuta was filed, claiming racial discrimination, sexual harassment and a “toxic” work environment. It was settled in 2020 for an unknown amount.
Byron-Lagattuta became the first woman chief of the Glen Ridge Police Department in 2010.