Cranford Cop Denied Promotion Over Politics: Jury

CRANFORD, NJ — A member of the Cranford Police Department won a discrimination claim against former Chief Ryan Greco and other township officials after he says he was unfairly passed over for a promotion due to politics.

Timothy O'Brien, who's been on the force in Cranford since 1998, sued Greco, the Township of Cranford, and former Mayor Brian Andrews, after he said his wife's fundraiser for a political rival of Andrews caused him to miss out on a promotion from sergeant to lieutenant in 2022.

Candidate Chrissa Stulpin, a friend of O'Brien's wife, was challenging Andrews at the time as he looked to secure another term.

On Monday, a judge in Union County Superior Court ruled that no punitive damages would be awarded to O'Brien. His attorneys were directed to submit an application for the coverage of additional fees.

O'Brien had already been awarded $17,800 in economic damages on Dec. 23 after a jury ruled in his favor that he had been intentionally retaliated against.

A judge dismissed some of O'Brien's claims against the Township in 2025 in favor of a partial summary judgment. She also allowed some claims against Andrews and Greco to proceed.

Attempts To Secure Promotion

On Nov. 2, 2022, O'Brien formally presented his qualifications to the department for promotion from sergeant to lieutenant.

According to the lawsuit filed in 2023, O'Brien was told on a phone call the next day by Township officials that "though he was fully qualified, he was not promoted." This, O'Brien said, was despite having six years more qualified experience than the candidate who was chosen.

According to O'Brien, what followed were threats in the form of text messages from Andrews and other Township officials.

In a complaint filed in April 2024, then police chief Ryan Greco was added as a defendant in the case.

In a second amended complaint filed in March 2025, Greco is alleged to have told the Township Administrator that there was an issue with O'Brien and incorrectly stated that he, not his wife, threw the fundraiser for Stulpin.

Greco allegedly sent O'Brien an offensive text message as well after he filed his lawsuit. This was followed by a lack of communication from Greco to O'Brien, the claim stated, and a stop on promoting sergeants to lieutenants for a certain period of time.

O'Brien applied to become a lieutenant multiple times after, including in early 2025, when he was again passed over.

"He initially came in third place in a promotional process that had been approved and used for years, which was based on promotional policies of Cranford's surrounding towns," the Township said in a statement through its attorney.

According to a letter from the attorneys representing the defendants, O'Brien was promoted to lieutenant just days before the civil trial began in December.

A jury ultimately found that his claims against Greco for retaliation were valid and awarded him the $17,800 in economic damages caused by missing out on the promotion.

Andrews was cleared of the claims against him and currently serves as Commissioner of Public Works & Engineering for Cranford.

"I appreciate that the jury cleared me of all claims...in my official and personal capacity," Andrews said. "After more than three years of political and personal attacks, I am glad to be vindicated."

Greco retired from the force last year.

Patch reached out electronically to the law firm representing O'Brien in the case and is yet to hear back.

The full statement from the Township given to Patch surrounding the lawsuit can be read in its entirety below:

More than a year ago, Judge Lisa Miralles Walsh found that the Township could not be held liable for the claims alleged by Lt. Tim O’Brien because there is not, nor has there ever been, any evidence that Cranford has any custom or practice of discrimination or retaliation based upon political affiliation. Similarly, the jury in the case found Commissioner Brian Andrews not liable for any of the claims made against him by Lt. O'Brien.

The truth is that Lt. O’Brien was never passed over for promotion. He initially came in third place in a promotional process that had been approved and used for years, which was based on promotional policies of Cranford’s surrounding towns. The officers who scored ahead of him were just as qualified as he was to be appointed to the rank of lieutenant, which he acknowledged at trial. As vacancies opened up, the Township promoted individuals who scored higher in the process. When Lt. O’Brien eventually moved to the top of the list, he too was promoted as soon as a vacancy opened up.

While we disagree with the verdict on Lt. O'Brien's claims against former Chief Ryan Greco, the fact that the jury awarded Lt. O'Brien $17,500 of the $700,000 he demanded in settlement, along with zero dollars in emotional damages and zero dollars in punitive damages, further reinforces our belief that this case has always been a meritless misuse of taxpayer dollars.

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