By David Madden

BERLIN, N.J. (CBS) — A South Jersey police chief is in trouble with the law, for allegedly going a little too far with a female employee.

Berlin Township police chief Joe Jackson is facing three misdemeanor counts of harassment and simple assault from incidents that stem back to April 2010 and came to a head last July.

“There has been a history with a female employee in the police department — a civilian — of instances of touching and rubbing that, apparently, left her feeling very uncomfortable,” says Jason Laughlin, spokesman for the Camden County prosecutor.

Jackson’s attorney, Louis Barbone, says he was surprised by the filing of what are, in effect, disorderly persons charges.

“The chief is a dedicated servant for some 25 years,” Barbone tells KYW Newsradio.  “There’s nothing he’s done that was unwanted. There’s nothing he’s done that constitutes simple assault or harassment.”

Of course that will be up to a judge to decide.

Jackson has been suspended since September, when the allegations first came to light.