A police chief in Hudson County is being accused of assaulting and harassing his officers in a lengthy list of complaints that includes defecating on floors, exposing himself, attempting to drug coworkers and sticking a hypodermic needle into an officer’s penis.
Chief Robert Farley, who was appointed chief of the North Bergen Police Department in February 2024, is also accused of retaliating against an officer who attempted to report him to the New Jersey Attorney General, according to court documents.
Five police officers in North Bergen said they plan to sue over Farley’s alleged behavior, which also includes claims of retaliation, discrimination, sexual misconduct and harassment.
In an email on Wednesday, a township spokesperson called the claims “false and outrageous.”
“The Township of North Bergen has full confidence in Chief Robert Farley’s leadership,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that township officials have referred the officers’ complaints to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office for review to avoid a conflict of interest.
The list of complaints ranges from a pattern of ongoing pranks like putting ink on door handles, setting off car alarms, or leaving crumbs on cops’ desks, to much more serious allegations of using racial slurs, spiking the office coffee pot with Viagra and Adderall, and sending sex toys to an officer’s home.
“I’ve never seen anything like this in my life,” said Patrick Toscano, the attorney who filed the claims on behalf of the police officers.
The officers say Farley’s toxic and abusive behavior had been ongoing since soon after he became chief. He has been with the department for 26 years and both his father and grandfather served as deputy chiefs.
“Chief Farley chases me around his office,” Derrin wrote in his notice. “After cornering me in the filing area with no further room for retreat, he sticks a hypodermic needle through my jeans into the tip of my penis.”
Derin wrote the needle drew blood and that he was further humiliated when he had to explain the injury to his wife.
Read complete articleWhen another officer filed a notice of intent to sue the department, Farley allegedly blamed Derin for giving the officer information that could be used against him.
“From this point on, the chief creates a hostile work environment,” Derin wrote.
“The chief would shave his body hair on people’s property, their persons, and their food,” Derin wrote. “He was also fond of scraping fluids from his underwear onto people seated in the chief’s office.”
Police chief pooped by desks, spiked coffee with Viagra, cops say in list of assault complaints
Five cops plan to sue the North Bergen Police Chief Robert Farley for allegedly assaulting, harassing and retaliating against them.
