The state of New Jersey is suing Clark Township police officials and former mayor Salvatore “Sal” Bonaccorso for racial discrimination, alleging officials instructed officers to “keep Black people out of Clark” through targeted policing practices.
The lawsuit, filed by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, names Bonaccorso, suspended Police Chief Pedro Matos and current Police Director Patrick Grady, alleging that town leaders “systematically discriminated against and harassed Black and other non-white motorists.”
The lawsuit alleges that Clark police disproportionately targeted Black and Hispanicdrivers, stopping Black motorists about 3.7 times and Hispanic motorists about 2.2 times more often than white drivers, violating New Jersey civil rights laws and the state constitution…