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Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino Resigns Over Racist Remarks Michael Saudino, a New Jersey Sheriff, Resigns Over Racist Remarks
(about 5 hours later)
The sheriff of the most populous county in New Jersey resigned Friday, a day after a recording in which he made racist remarks about black people and Sikhs was published by WNYC.The sheriff of the most populous county in New Jersey resigned Friday, a day after a recording in which he made racist remarks about black people and Sikhs was published by WNYC.
The sheriff of Bergen County, Michael Saudino, a Democrat who was in his third term, had initially issued an apology Thursday evening, but declined to step down even after numerous public officials — including Gov. Philip D. Murphy, Representative Josh Gottheimer, whose district includes a large part of Bergen County, and Gurbir Grewal, the state attorney general — called for his swift resignation.The sheriff of Bergen County, Michael Saudino, a Democrat who was in his third term, had initially issued an apology Thursday evening, but declined to step down even after numerous public officials — including Gov. Philip D. Murphy, Representative Josh Gottheimer, whose district includes a large part of Bergen County, and Gurbir Grewal, the state attorney general — called for his swift resignation.
But on Friday afternoon, facing mounting pressure, Mr. Saudino and his four deputies submitted their resignations, effective immediately.But on Friday afternoon, facing mounting pressure, Mr. Saudino and his four deputies submitted their resignations, effective immediately.
The recording was made at Mr. Murphy’s inauguration in Trenton. Soon after the governor’s speech, Mr. Saudino disparaged Mr. Murphy’s proposal to legalize marijuana, saying “in other words, let the blacks come in.”The recording was made at Mr. Murphy’s inauguration in Trenton. Soon after the governor’s speech, Mr. Saudino disparaged Mr. Murphy’s proposal to legalize marijuana, saying “in other words, let the blacks come in.”
“Smoke their marijuana, do this do that, and don’t worry about it,” Mr. Saudino said, according to the WNYC report. “You know, we’ll tie the hands of cops.”“Smoke their marijuana, do this do that, and don’t worry about it,” Mr. Saudino said, according to the WNYC report. “You know, we’ll tie the hands of cops.”
He also said the only reason Mr. Murphy nominated Mr. Grewal, the first Sikh-American in the country to be a state attorney general, was because of “the turban.”He also said the only reason Mr. Murphy nominated Mr. Grewal, the first Sikh-American in the country to be a state attorney general, was because of “the turban.”
The comments brought condemnation across the state, but Mr. Saudino initially offered only an apology and made no mention of leaving his position.The comments brought condemnation across the state, but Mr. Saudino initially offered only an apology and made no mention of leaving his position.
“These remarks are not representative of the person that I am and they are in no way consistent with the manner in which I have conducted my life personally and as a law enforcement professional with over 46 years of service to the residents of Bergen County,” he said in a statement Thursday night.“These remarks are not representative of the person that I am and they are in no way consistent with the manner in which I have conducted my life personally and as a law enforcement professional with over 46 years of service to the residents of Bergen County,” he said in a statement Thursday night.
But Mr. Saudino did not show up to work Friday, and speculation began to swirl about whether he would step down.But Mr. Saudino did not show up to work Friday, and speculation began to swirl about whether he would step down.
The office of county sheriff is an elected position in New Jersey. A replacement will be appointed by Mr. Murphy. The department, which has over 600 employees, will be run in the interim by two officials in the Bergen County sheriff’s department.The office of county sheriff is an elected position in New Jersey. A replacement will be appointed by Mr. Murphy. The department, which has over 600 employees, will be run in the interim by two officials in the Bergen County sheriff’s department.
Following Mr. Saudino’s resignation, Mr. Murphy said he intended to “appoint an interim sheriff who can rebuild the public’s trust.”Following Mr. Saudino’s resignation, Mr. Murphy said he intended to “appoint an interim sheriff who can rebuild the public’s trust.”
“With the resignation of Sheriff Saudino, we can now begin the process of restoring faith in the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office after so much of it was so quickly eroded,” Mr. Murphy said in a statement. “The Bergen County Sheriff’s Office is home to countless dedicated officers who no doubt were as horrified and disappointed by their former boss’s comments as we were.”“With the resignation of Sheriff Saudino, we can now begin the process of restoring faith in the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office after so much of it was so quickly eroded,” Mr. Murphy said in a statement. “The Bergen County Sheriff’s Office is home to countless dedicated officers who no doubt were as horrified and disappointed by their former boss’s comments as we were.”