Can you file a police report now about the harassment?
On the off chance this is real (triggering several creative writing flags), we need to know where you are: country and state/province to link you any relevant laws.
There are no laws I’m aware of that prevent an employer giving a negative reference that’s accurate, or reflects their real opinion.
If they lie, and it causes you financial losses, then you may have a claim & recourse.
If you’re genuinely interested in police work, I’d encourage you to take this as an opportunity to look up and read your local relevant statutes yourself. Then post any questions you have about interpreting those statutes here for further advice.
Being thoughtful and learning how to educate yourself on what’s legal or illegal is a pretty important part of your intended career path.
He isn’t in any law enforcement position so they’d take it with a grain of salt. That’s like a plumber telling your new employer you’d be a bad doctor.
Good thing it’s on tape, but you could also email him a letter saying “this is to document our conversation when you said xyz.” Then he is on notice.
If he said anything remotely like this, you work for a toddler and should proceed with your career plans.
Get him to say it again with your phone in your pocket recording the audio.
Coercion to do a job can easily meet the definition of human trafficking. And he may be telling on himself with a little bit of projection here with ‘how I would use the force to make people my workers.’ I would be tempted to find a hotline for reporting him for suspected human trafficking.
Most cities have a civil service process and they will assess negative points, etc. from your background check. They will afford you the opportunity to contest any negative reports from tickets to former employment or employers. I would suggest you explain to this dude that he will become your employee if he pulls this stunt and is slapped with a lawsuit.
“You” — “can’t” — “shouldn’t”. Do better before writing a hate comment.
Talk to an officer. You could probably have it put in a police report. If he doesn’t know if it is a crime, he knows someone who does.
Document everything. Then quit and sign up for unemployment. When they ask why you left your place of employment, tell them you were in a hostile environment, and maybe they will bring them up on charges.