MOUNTAIN LAKES — A Mountain Lakes police officer has filed a civil lawsuit against the Borough of Mountain Lakes, alleging years of sexual harassment, gender and ancestry discrimination, and the creation of a hostile work environment by senior municipal officials.
The complaint, filed January 12 in Superior Court of New Jersey, Morris County, was brought by Melanie Aguilar, a police officer who has been employed by the Mountain Lakes Police Department since 2022. Aguilar alleges violations of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) and is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, and other relief.
According to the lawsuit, Aguilar is the only female police officer currently employed by the department and the first Latina hired. The complaint alleges that from the beginning of her employment, she was subjected to repeated inappropriate comments, sexual remarks, and conduct by then-Police Chief Shawn Bennett, who served as her direct supervisor.
The filing details multiple alleged incidents, including claims that Bennett made sexualized comments about Aguilar’s appearance, showed her explicit images on his phone while on duty, suggested she share a hotel room with him during a police-related event, and sent text messages containing sexual references. Aguilar also alleges that Bennett repeatedly told her she “had the job because of him,” which she claims contributed to an atmosphere of intimidation and fear of retaliation.
The complaint further alleges that Mountain Lakes Borough Manager Mitchell Stern also engaged in inappropriate and sexualized comments toward Aguilar, including remarks about her body and pregnancy. Aguilar claims Stern similarly reminded her that he was responsible for her employment, reinforcing her fear of reporting the alleged conduct.
According to the lawsuit, Aguilar avoided spending time inside police headquarters whenever possible due to the alleged behavior, completing reports
