A police chief in Bergen County was suspended with pay Thursday pending the outcome of court allegations that he shoved his son-in-law from behind.

Hasbrouck Heights Police Chief Michael Colaneri Sr., 57, is accused in court documents of showing up on July 28 at his daughter’s home on McKinley Avenue in Lodi and pushing her husband into a dresser and TV. His suspension was first reported by northjersey.com.

“After an accident with my son, my wife panicked and called EMTs and her family,” the victim stated in a criminal complaint. “Her father, Michael Colaneri, then assaulted me by pushing me from behind into my dresser.”

The victim said his spine hit the dresser and his head hit the TV. Colaneri was charged with a disorderly person’s offense and released. On Aug. 22, a judicial officer determined probable cause existed for a charge of simple assault and a warrant was issued for Colaneri.

On Thursday, the borough’s Police Committee issued Colaneri a written disciplinary action suspending him with pay pending the outcome of his court case. The committee cited state law and "other good cause” as an appropriate reason for the suspension.

A number found for Colaneri was no longer working, and he could not be reached for comment.

The allegation from his son-in-law is one of several levied against the chief and his department this year. On Aug. 15, PBA Local 102 President John Schwedhelm relayed to the Borough Council that police officers have experienced fear of retaliation and harassment while working in the department.

“I read a statement on behalf of (union) members, drafted by the membership, regarding the chief and the department,” Schwedhelm said Friday.

“Chief Colaneri has led a department that is rampant with nepotism, workplace harassment, intimidation and fear," Schwedhelm said in the statement. “As a result of his actions, statements and policy decisions, the department morale has deteriorated and officer safety standards have diminished."

NorthJersey.com reported Colaneri was recently named in a federal lawsuit that claims a retired police officer working security in a Hasbrouck Heights elementary school shoved a third-grader with a baton and threatened other children with physical harm.

The complaint states Colaneri removed the officer from the school but then returned him to his post in a few months.

Colaneri’s son, Michael Jr., is a lieutenant at the Hasbrouck Heights Police Department and Colaneri’s brother, Robert, was a Carlstadt cop before he became an undersheriff to former Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino.

Robert Colaneri resigned from the sheriff’s office last year when Saudino was forced to resign for making racist comments about state Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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