N.J. police detective faced demotion, reduced pay after medical leave, lawsuit says

An officer with the Hackensack Police Department has filed a lawsuit against the city alleging discrimination and retaliation following a post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis tied to a job-related shooting.
The lawsuit, filed Nov. 4, claims the city violated state and federal laws, including the Family and Medical Leave Act and the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination.
The city and its police department did not immediately respond on Wednesday to a request for comment.
Detective Michael Koenig, who has served with the Hackensack Police Department since 2009, said he sought professional treatment for PTSD and depression in November 2022, according to the lawsuit, filed in Superior Court of Bergen County.
After returning from leave, Koenig alleges he was stripped of his detective position, reassigned to patrol duty, and subjected to a different schedule, lower pay, and reduced benefits, the suit says.
The complaint also details an incident in March 2024, when Koenig claims he was pressured to sign a release for his medical records without explanation and without legal or union representation.
A lieutenant allegedly insisted Koenig sign the release during an Internal Affairs investigation and threatened disciplinary action if he refused.
Koenig ultimately declined to sign. Within hours of his refusal, Koenig was cleared for full duty without explanation, according to the lawsuit.
The incident was part of an internal affairs investigation against Koenig with charges that were not substantiated. But Koenig remained barred from access to City Hall unless he was responding to an emergency, the suit says.
Koenig’s lawsuit accuses the city and its police administration of fostering a retaliatory environment and unfairly targeting him.
The complaint alleges Koenig faced disciplinary investigations and public denigration, including being labeled “The Enemy” by police officials at a city council meeting.
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.