CRANFORD, NJ – The Cranford Township attorney has come under fire after publicly doling out an unsavory opinion aimed at a Cranford Police officer who is actively suing the local mayor and township over being denied a promotion for the officer’s alleged political leanings.
This past March, Cranford Police Sgt. Timothy O’Brien, who’d been with the force for approximately 25 years, filed a suit against Mayor Brian Andrews and the respective township.
According to local reports, Sgt. O’Brien claims he was denied a promotion after being asked by the mayor to “bring a former police officer known for his inflammatory social-media posts to heel.”
The background on the matter relates to another lawsuit filed against the mayor, which was dismissed this past August, by former Craford Police Officer Brian Lopez over allegations of attempting to shutter the retired officer’s protected speech.
Lopez apparently was the person Mayor Andrews contacted Sgt. O’Brien about back in December of 2022, sending a Facebook message to Sgt. O’Brien on December 18th, 2022, that explicitly said the retired officer’s political opinions “reflects on” Sgt. O’Brien.
“Hey Tim — I’ve been getting a lot of weird messages from your friend Brian Lopez. You may want to check in on him — I know this time of year can be tough on some people. People know you are close to him, so it is unfortunate this kind of thing reflects on you as well.”
In response to the mayor’s Facebook message, Sgt. O’Brien said he didn’t endorse any of Lopez’s criticisms or odd takes regarding the mayor or his administration, but emphasized, “I worked with [Lopez] for over 20 years. I’ve never hung out with him outside of work. He tries to get a rise out of people. I am no way associated with this stuff.”
After Sgt. O’Brien explained he had little to no influence on the retired officer’s political opinions, Mayor Andrews responded with another message that implied Sgt. Andrews was lying to him about the nature of his relationship with Lopez.
“I’m sorry to say I’ve had several people tell me you’re friends and he’s been to your home. I’ve found you to be a stand-up guy and seen you are a true professional. But this is too far for me. If his friends don’t intervene, it’s on you, too.”
Even though a federal judge ruled that Lopez’s case didn’t result in any justifiable claim of loss/injury or bonafide suppression of speech at the hands of the mayor, Sgt. O’Brien’s is still in the fold after he claims he found himself passed over for promotion after the exchange with Mayor Andrews.
Frank Capece, an attorney representing Sgt. O’Brien, noted earlier this year that Lopez’s and his client’s cases “should not be conflated under any circumstances,” and with good reason, as Sgt. O’Brien is able to articulate financial losses - to the tune of $12K annually that would’ve come with the promotion’s raise – stemming from the alleged motivations of him being passed over for promotion.
Even though the case has not yet been decided, nor has the discovery process seemingly been completed, Cranford Township Attorney Ryan Cooper saw fit to deliver his unsolicited opinion on the case’s merits during a township meeting on October 10th when merely being asked about the how the township is paying for the legal costs associated with the lawsuit.
“You were asking about how the cost of that lawsuit is being paid. First, I can tell you, it’s the Township’s position that [the retaliation allegations] did not happen – we’re very confident that will be shown through the course of what’s called discovery in the litigation – which is proceeding very comfortable with our defense, and that it just simply didn’t happen. The employee is disgruntled because they didn’t get a promotion they felt like they deserved and is blaming their political activity for it.”
Given the evidence in Sgt. O’Brien’s favor regarding the pending litigation, in tandem with Cooper delivering his unsolicited opinion that painted the respected police veteran as a liar, the backlash from local police supporters has been swift.
An October 11th statement from the group America Supports Law Enforcement accused Cooper of making “a slanderous statement” about Sgt. O’Brien during the township meeting in question.
“[I]t has come to our attention that the Township attorney Ryan Cooper made a slanderous statement about one of the officers during a township meeting. Such remarks not only tarnish the reputation of the officer in question but also cast a shadow of doubt on the entire department.”
The local PBA for Cranford also shared a statement condemning Cooper’s comments.
“It is both inappropriate and disappointing that Mr. Cooper would speak about a member of our Local in such a negative way. For over 24 years Brother Timothy O’Brien has diligently and honorably served the Township of Cranford in his duties as a Patrolman, Detective, and Sergeant.”
The general consensus from those upset at Cooper’s characterization of Sgt. O’Brien is that some sort of formal apology be rendered to rectify the attack on the officer’s character.
This past March, Cranford Police Sgt. Timothy O’Brien, who’d been with the force for approximately 25 years, filed a suit against Mayor Brian Andrews and the respective township.
According to local reports, Sgt. O’Brien claims he was denied a promotion after being asked by the mayor to “bring a former police officer known for his inflammatory social-media posts to heel.”
The background on the matter relates to another lawsuit filed against the mayor, which was dismissed this past August, by former Craford Police Officer Brian Lopez over allegations of attempting to shutter the retired officer’s protected speech.
Lopez apparently was the person Mayor Andrews contacted Sgt. O’Brien about back in December of 2022, sending a Facebook message to Sgt. O’Brien on December 18th, 2022, that explicitly said the retired officer’s political opinions “reflects on” Sgt. O’Brien.
“Hey Tim — I’ve been getting a lot of weird messages from your friend Brian Lopez. You may want to check in on him — I know this time of year can be tough on some people. People know you are close to him, so it is unfortunate this kind of thing reflects on you as well.”
In response to the mayor’s Facebook message, Sgt. O’Brien said he didn’t endorse any of Lopez’s criticisms or odd takes regarding the mayor or his administration, but emphasized, “I worked with [Lopez] for over 20 years. I’ve never hung out with him outside of work. He tries to get a rise out of people. I am no way associated with this stuff.”
After Sgt. O’Brien explained he had little to no influence on the retired officer’s political opinions, Mayor Andrews responded with another message that implied Sgt. Andrews was lying to him about the nature of his relationship with Lopez.
“I’m sorry to say I’ve had several people tell me you’re friends and he’s been to your home. I’ve found you to be a stand-up guy and seen you are a true professional. But this is too far for me. If his friends don’t intervene, it’s on you, too.”
Even though a federal judge ruled that Lopez’s case didn’t result in any justifiable claim of loss/injury or bonafide suppression of speech at the hands of the mayor, Sgt. O’Brien’s is still in the fold after he claims he found himself passed over for promotion after the exchange with Mayor Andrews.
Frank Capece, an attorney representing Sgt. O’Brien, noted earlier this year that Lopez’s and his client’s cases “should not be conflated under any circumstances,” and with good reason, as Sgt. O’Brien is able to articulate financial losses - to the tune of $12K annually that would’ve come with the promotion’s raise – stemming from the alleged motivations of him being passed over for promotion.
Even though the case has not yet been decided, nor has the discovery process seemingly been completed, Cranford Township Attorney Ryan Cooper saw fit to deliver his unsolicited opinion on the case’s merits during a township meeting on October 10th when merely being asked about the how the township is paying for the legal costs associated with the lawsuit.
“You were asking about how the cost of that lawsuit is being paid. First, I can tell you, it’s the Township’s position that [the retaliation allegations] did not happen – we’re very confident that will be shown through the course of what’s called discovery in the litigation – which is proceeding very comfortable with our defense, and that it just simply didn’t happen. The employee is disgruntled because they didn’t get a promotion they felt like they deserved and is blaming their political activity for it.”
Given the evidence in Sgt. O’Brien’s favor regarding the pending litigation, in tandem with Cooper delivering his unsolicited opinion that painted the respected police veteran as a liar, the backlash from local police supporters has been swift.
An October 11th statement from the group America Supports Law Enforcement accused Cooper of making “a slanderous statement” about Sgt. O’Brien during the township meeting in question.
“[I]t has come to our attention that the Township attorney Ryan Cooper made a slanderous statement about one of the officers during a township meeting. Such remarks not only tarnish the reputation of the officer in question but also cast a shadow of doubt on the entire department.”
The local PBA for Cranford also shared a statement condemning Cooper’s comments.
“It is both inappropriate and disappointing that Mr. Cooper would speak about a member of our Local in such a negative way. For over 24 years Brother Timothy O’Brien has diligently and honorably served the Township of Cranford in his duties as a Patrolman, Detective, and Sergeant.”
The general consensus from those upset at Cooper’s characterization of Sgt. O’Brien is that some sort of formal apology be rendered to rectify the attack on the officer’s character.
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