The Appellate Division upheld a more than $1.5 million jury award and nearly $600,000 in attorney fees for a Sea Girt police officer for his claim that he was denied a promotion and discriminated against due to his military service obligation.

Kenneth Hagel was a full-time patrol officer in Sea Girt in 2013 when he claims he was denied the opportunity to apply for the position of sergeant, and he maintains he was discriminated against also for being a member of the U.S. Navy Reserve. He filed a claim in April 2014, Hagel v. Sea Girt, in Monmouth County Superior Court which alleged that Chief of Police Kevin Davenport, the borough and the police department violated the Law Against Discrimination, according to the opinion.