The Bergen County Police Department retaliated against a sergeant who reported misconduct on the part of his superiors, according to a $3 million lawsuit filed Monday.

Sgt. Robert Carney was denied a promotion and stripped of responsibilities after speaking up about the department tampering with evidence and falsifying reports, among other charges, his attorney, William Feldman said in an interview with Patch.

"When he complained about it, he became the target of retaliation," Feldman said.

His claims kept him from being promoted to lieutenant, Feldman said. Carney was up for promotion for two years and had scored well on his promotional exam, Feldman said.

"There are many promotions in the department, but he was told specifically that he was being denied a promotion because he was effectively, in the vernacular, not playing ball with regard to an investigation regarding a politically favored job applicant," Feldman said.

Carney's misgivings about the department date back to 2009, Feldman said, and continue up to the present day. He was recently removed as head of internal affairs and demoted to patrol status, Feldman added.

Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli said his office was reviewing Carney's claims, NorthJersey.com reported.