CRANFORD — A legal battle that has been escalating between the Township of Cranford, its mayor and one of its police officers who was denied a promotion is still playing out in state Superior Court amid continued allegations of political favoritism. In February of last year, Sergeant Timothy O’Brien alleged via an official complaint that Mayor Brian Andrews used social media to “threaten and intimidate” him into bringing a former police officer — a known critic of the mayor and his administration — to heel.

Sgt. O’Brien, through his attorney, Frank Capece, has now filed an amended complaint with the state alleging that, in addition to the actions of Mr. Andrews, his promotion to the rank of lieutenant was denied after his wife hosted a political fundraiser for an unnamed candidate who was hoping to secure a seat on the township committee in 2022.

According to the initial complaint, Sgt. O’Brien, who has served on the force in Cranford since 1998, was “subjected to a hostile and harmful work environment” shortly after his promotion was denied.

Court records show that Mr. Andrews, then a member of the township committee, sent a series of messages to Mr. O’Brien asking him to “check in” on Brian Lopez, a former member of the police department and a frequent critic of the township’s administration.

“People know you are close to him, so it is unfortunate this kind of thing reflects on you as well,” Mr. Andrews, who became the mayor in January of 2023, wrote shortly after Sgt. O’Brien’s promotion was denied. “I’ve found you to be a stand-up guy and you are a true professional…but this is too far for me. If his friends don’t intervene, it’s on you, too.”

In his deposition, recorded as part of the court proceedings last November, Mayor Andrews testified that he was “concerned” about Mr. Lopez and was reaching out to Sgt. O’Brien to encourage him to “check in” on his former colleague.

“If people don’t check in on folks who seem to be going through something, it’s on everybody. It’s on the people that know them, the people that interact with them,” the mayor said when questioned about the messages.

According to official court documents, Sgt. O’Brien relayed the conversation to Police Chief Ryan Greco, who was serving as the township’s interim business administrator at the time. Chief Greco later testified in his own deposition that he brought the matter to the township attorney to “put a stop” to the communications.

“We can’t have elected officials contact township employees in that manner,” the chief said, adding that the messages had “zero” influence in his decision not to grant Sgt. O’Brien his promotion.

During his own deposition, Chief Greco denied allegations that Sgt. O’Brien was denied a promotion for a personal reason. The chief testified that candidates for intradepartmental promotions within the Cranford Police Department are subject to an oral interview (which, in Mr. O’Brien’s case, was conducted by the chief and two other members of the department) as well as an individual trait assessment that the chief develops based on his own working knowledge of the officers who serve under him.

“This is a small department. It’s not New York City. I know these individuals personally,” Chief Greco said, adding that he had known Sgt. O’Brien for “35-plus years.”

Mayor Andrews went on to note via his deposition that he could not remember reaching out to anyone else regarding Mr. Lopez’s well-being, nor could he recall whether he had taken any additional actions to correct the situation.

Chief Greco later testified that Mr. Andrews had approached him about Mr. Lopez’s behavior over the course of “many, many conversations” and had requested an intervention. Chief Greco stated during his deposition that he never acted on the mayor’s request, but noted that he could not recall Mr. Andrews ever asking him to provide Mr. Lopez with “emotional assistance.”

According to legal documentation, tensions between Sgt. O’Brien, Mayor Andrews and the Township of Cranford have continued to escalate in the months that have passed since the initial complaint was filed early last year.

In October of 2023, Township Attorney Ryan Cooper referred to Sgt. O’Brien as a “disgruntled employee” during a public meeting of the local government. Then, shortly thereafter, Sgt. O’Brien received a group text message from Chief Greco which read “Tim’s a c*** but I’d bury a body with you.” One other person was included in the conversation.

The conversation is referenced in the amended complaint.

Both the initial complaint and the recently-amended version describe Sgt. O’Brien as an “outstanding law enforcement officer” who has never been the subject of an Internal Affairs Investigation or been charged with any violations.

In a request for admission submitted as part of the discovery process, however, Sgt. O’Brien acknowledged that he has been the subject of more than 40 “complaints, reports, or Internal Affairs Investigations” during his time with the department. The document, signed by Sgt. O’Brien, also indicates that he has been disciplined through both written and verbal reprimands and that he has been suspended from duty on at least two occasions.

An OPRA request seeking the disciplinary records of both Sgt. O’Brien and Chief Greco was recently denied by the township.