A police chief in New Jersey is facing multiple allegations of misconduct, harassment and abuse from five officers who claim he created a toxic and humiliating work environment inside the North Bergen Police Department. Legal documents accuse Chief Robert Farley of a wide range of disturbing acts, including dosing the department coffee with prescription drugs and defecating in public areas of the office.

Among the claims laid out in the notices of intent to sue, Chief Farley is accused of adding Adderall and Viagra into the office coffee pot without employees’ knowledge. One detective, Michael A. Derin, said he stopped using the communal coffee after seeing the chief stir the pills directly into the pot and wait for officers to drink from it.

Please welcome our new Chief of Police, Robert J. Farley, Jr.! A North Bergen native, Chief Farley is committed to enhancing neighborhood safety & improving relationships between law enforcement & the community. He established a Community Relations Unit to further these efforts. pic.twitter.com/KxSQ4Q6BTE

— North Bergen Police Department (@nbpolice) March 13, 2024

In another incident, Michael F. Derin, the detective’s father and a former special captain, claimed Farley chased him through the office and jabbed a hypodermic needle into his groin area through his clothing. Derin said the puncture drew blood and that the chief later dismissed the assault as a joke.

According to Lt. Alex Guzman, Farley regularly defecated on floors in front of staff. One officer claimed the chief once left feces in a trash can for another officer to find after moving into the same office. Guzman also accused Farley of clogging toilets on purpose and spreading human waste around the building.

Other complaints include accusations that Farley exposed himself to subordinates, sent sex toys to officers’ homes and heated hot peppers in the office microwave, triggering a chemical reaction that required the fire department to ventilate the building. One lieutenant said the fumes caused physical illness among the staff.

Guzman also alleged that his family was harassed, claiming the chief sent gay pride flags and other intimate items to his home, which were opened by his wife and children. Another officer, Rasheed Siyam, said he faced racial insults and retaliation after speaking out.

Despite the growing list of complaints, North Bergen officials issued a statement defending Farley, saying the township has “full confidence in Chief Robert Farley’s leadership” and has referred the case to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office to avoid conflicts of interest.