The sheriff of Passaic County, New Jersey, died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound on Tuesday, according to law enforcement sources, one week after the department was embroiled in turmoil including layoffs and charges against officers accused of beating an inmate.
Sheriff Richard H. Berdnik died inside the Turkish restaurant Toros in Clifton, New Jersey, around 3:30 p.m., three law enforcement sources familiar with the matter told NBC New York.
Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh confirmed his death in a post on Facebook writing: “I affectionately referred to Richard H. Berdnik as ‘America’s Sheriff.’ He was an exemplary law enforcement leader and a cherished friend. May he rest in eternal peace.”
Mayor Sayegh had been at the Toros restaurant earlier on Tuesday to present a key to the city to the business’ owner for donating 10,000 meals to those in need and free meals to doctors and nurses during the pandemic. The sheriff did not attend the event.
“I look back at all our text messages between the two of us. I’ve known him for 14 years,” Sayegh told NBC New York. “He was an exemplary law enforcement leader and he was a cherished friend.”
Berdnik was a stalwart figure in New Jersey law enforcement, having served as the sheriff for five terms. He was first sworn into the role in January 2011 and most recently won re-election for his fifth term in 2022.
He is survived by his wife and four adult children.
The news of Berdnik’s death comes at a turbulent time for the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office.
Last week, the Bergen Record reported that the sheriff had sent a memo to his department describing a challenging time at the agency and the need to lay off 29 jail corrections officers.
Also last week, a Passaic County correctional officer and two sergeants were charged with deprivation of rights and conspiracy to obstruct justice in the alleged beating of a pretrial detainee.
Prosecutors said in a statement that the detainee was held at Passaic…
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