Prosecutors: New Jersey Police Chief Arrested On Drug Charges

HACKENSACK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) — Authorities say a New Jersey police chief is facing drug charges.

Bergen County prosecutors say Palisades Interstate Parkway Police Chief Michael Coppola was buying cocaine online and picking it up at a post office box.

Detectives say the placed a package with fake cocaine inside the PO box following a recent order and arrested Coppola after he picked it up.

The 43-year-old is charged with attempting to possess cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He's scheduled to make a court appearance on Aug. 22.

"I live down the end of the block and I just saw all the cop cars coming," one neighbor told CBS2's Lisa Rozner.

"He's a nice guy," said another.

Coppola was suspended in July after the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office issued a report finding suspected violations of state laws and police guidelines within the department.

He joined the department as an officer in 2001 and became chief in 2014. A LinkedIn profile shows he's been an EMT, a firefighter and started an IT company providing services to law enforcement agencies, Rozner reported.

(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)