By Associated Press

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - A state appeals court has ruled a police department's policy that differentiates between pregnant officers and others is unlawful.

The judges wrote that Friday's ruling was the first of its kind to test New Jersey's expanded employee protections for pregnant workers. A lower court had sided with Ocean Township's police department against Officer Kathleen Delanoy.

Delanoy says the department's maternity policy violated New Jersey's Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which took effect in 2014.

She claims non-pregnant officers seeking temporary reassignments due to injury are treated more favorably than pregnant officers seeking similar accommodations.

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