JERSEY CITY — A lawsuit filed against Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop and others by former Police Chief Robert Cowan been withdrawn. Fulop demoted and replaced Cowan last year, when Cowan refused to cooperate with structural changes to the police department.
City Spokesperson Ryan Jacobs said the city had no comment about the suit’s withdrawal.
Published accounts said Cowan withdrew the suit because of its high cost to pursue, and the distraction it would cause his family.
Because the withdrawal was done without prejudice, it cannot be refilled in the future.
Cowan’s suit had made a number of allegations, accusing Fulop and Public Safety Director James Shea of meddling with police duties. Cowan’s lawsuit had threatened to bring to light a series of accusations that would have been an irritation for the mayor as he eyes a run for governor in 2017.
The former police chief, who had campaigned for Fulop in the 2013 mayoral race, accused Fulop and Public Safety Director James Shea of usurping his authority and meddling with police matters for political reasons.
Cowan was replaced by a new chief who began restructuring the department.
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