Former Clerk In Ho-Ho-Kus Says Police Chief Screamed At Her, Discriminated

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A former clerk in Ho-Ho-Kus has filed a lawsuit saying the police chief screamed at her in an office, and that she was fired months afterward.

Diane Cebulski of Midland Park filed the suit in Bergen County Superior Court on Friday.

The suit says that she was hired as a full-time clerk in the Police Department in 2021.

She said that she found out about various employees doing work for another borough while they worked for Ho-Ho-Kus, and were "stealing time" from the town. She also said that other town employees had sued or "blown the whistle" in town, but were continually referred to as the "dark side" by Chief Michael Lacroix.

She said that at one point, she made a joke to Chief Lacroix, asking if he thought she had gone to the "dark side." The chief told her that she'd be fired if she did, something she didn't consider a joke, according to the lawsuit.

Then, in January 2024, Cebulski took a lunch break with a sergeant who had filed legal documents against the town, she said.

Chief Lacroix allegedly texted her about her “sit-down lunch in the break room.”

When she went to talk to the chief to clarify, according to the suit, the chief screamed at her and made her feel threatened.

According to the suit, "The Chief pointed to the Captain's office and loudly said, 'Get in there.' Then he very loudly and violently slammed the door and yelled 'Now I am f--king pissed.' He continued to berate Plaintiff using profanity and a very loud voice ... Plaintiff felt extremely threatened by being screamed at in a closed environment with two very large armed officers, one of which (the Cliief) was totally out of control and blocking her only means of exit."

According to the suit, Cebulski repeated that she would make up whatever time the chief wanted.

Cebulski was so "shaken up" that she took the rest of the day off, she says in the suit, and another employee asked if she was okay. The chief later apologized.

But Cebulski felt discriminated against for months afterward, she said.

She said that in December, borough officials told her she was being terminated. The officials also said that the action was "hard for them."

Cebulski responded, according to the suit, that actually, "It was hard for Plaintiff to be unemployed with three children and a college tuition bill just three weeks prior to Christmas. ... She was told that they did not have to give her any reasons."

Ultimately, Cebulski says, a younger colleague got promoted in her place.

The suit says the borough discriminated against Cebulski on the basis of age, and that when she complained about what she believed were violations of policies or law, her work environment became hostile.

Cebulski is suing for punitive and compensatory damages, and has requested a jury trial, according to the suit.

Patch did not receive a response after reaching out to the town for comment on Wednesday, but will update this story if comment is received.