A North Bergen police officer was arrested Monday on theft charges after investigators said he remained at home while he was supposed to be on duty.
Rasheed Siyam, 27, is charged with theft by deception as a third-degree crime. He was arrested at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office and released pending a Sept. 29 court appearance, authorities said.
The investigation found that between November 2024 and May 2025, Siyam returned to his home while on duty for extended periods of time, according to Acting Hudson County Prosecutor Wayne Mello.
“He remained home over 130 hours beyond department approved meal breaks,” Mello said in a statement on Tuesday.
Siyam’s attorney, Patrick Toscano, of Fairfield, told NJ Advance Media on Tuesday that the officer turned himself into the prosecutor’s office, where he was charged on a summons.
Toscano said Siyam has been suspended without pay pending the outcome of the theft charge.
“By all accounts, my client is a phenomenal police officer,” Toscano said.
“Any criminal prosecution for an unintentional misstep apparently made by our client, with no intent to deceive is, simply put, silly,” Toscano said.
Earlier this year, Siyam filed a notice of intent to sue North Bergen, claiming he faced a hostile work environment, ethnic discrimination, and retaliation after reporting racist remarks to investigators.
Siyam is one of five North Bergen Police Officers who detailed in court papers various complaints of harassment, sexual misconduct, discrimination and retaliation having to do with the alleged conduct of police Chief Robert Farley.
The officers have accused Farley of assault and harassment, alleging he defecated on floors, exposed himself, attempted to drug coworkers and stuck a hypodermic needle into an officer’s penis.