Asbury Park to pay $1.185 million in police discrimination settlement

The city of Asbury Park has agreed to a $1.185 million settlement to resolve a lawsuit filed by former police officer Ahmed Lawson. Lawson, who served with the department for 18 years, alleged he faced racial discrimination and retaliation after reporting that a police captain used a racial slur over a radio transmission.

Lawson claimed the incident led to him being denied a promotion. While the city reached the agreement without admitting wrongdoing, the settlement follows a history of legal challenges for the Asbury Park Police Department. Within the last decade, five separate cases involving accusations of racism have been filed against the department.

In 2023, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office appointed an internal monitor to oversee the department following claims of systemic racism. These allegations included the existence of a group among certain officers referred to as the ‘CRAB Club,’ an acronym for ‘Crazy Racists Against Blacks.’ Captain John Crescio, who was accused of using the slur, has denied the allegations, claiming a radio transmission error occurred during a private conversation.