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Bergen County Sheriff, Michael Saudino, resigned, one day after a record of him making racist comments – causing a series of calls for him to resign.
A brief three-paragraph statement was issued around 3 pm On Friday, a Saudi spokesman said the resignation was effective "at this time and date."
Deputy Executive Director George Buono, Deputy Sheriff Robert Colaneri, Deputy Sheriff Brian Smith and Deputy Sheriff Joseph Hornyak also resigned with immediate effect, the statement said.
Sheriff's chief of office, Kevin Pell, will be the sheriff's operations manager, and Bergen County sheriff's office director Steve Ahrendt will be the head of operations for Bergen County until the Governor Phil Murphy appoints an acting sheriff, the statement said.
On Thursday, the WNYC released a recording of Saudino on the inauguration of Murphy. In the recording, we can hear him comment on African Americans, the state's Sikh Attorney General, Gurbir Grewal, and Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver.
Referring to Murphy's inaugural speech in January, Saudino reportedly said, "He talked about everything, marijuana, the state of the sanctuary, the best criminal justice reform. – They want, smoke their marijuana, do that, and do not worry about it. You know, we'll tie the hands of the cops.
He also stated that Grewal had gotten his job only because he was wearing a turban and asked if Oliver was gay, noting that she had never been married, according to the report. .
According to his biography on the sheriff's office website, Pell – who will conduct office operations on a temporary basis – has been in law enforcement since 1992. He was promoted to sheriff's bureau chief in 2016 by Saudino.
Who is Michael Saudino?
In a statement released Thursday night, Saudino apologized for his comments and did not dispute their validity. In this statement, he resisted calls to resign from Murphy, Grewal and other personalities, politicians, police unions and others.
"These remarks are not representative of the person I am and they do not correspond in any way to the way in which I have led my life personally and as a law enforcement professional with over 46 years of service to the inhabitants of Bergen County ", he said in the statement.
The sheriff of Bergen County oversees a budget of $ 79.8 million, or about 15% of the county's total finances, and 600 employees. The county is home to over 948,000 people.
Allison Pries can be contacted at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @AllisonPries. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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