Bergen Sheriff Resigns After Racist Remarks Caught on Tape

Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino resigned Friday under pressure from officials across the state after WNYC broadcast a secretly taped conversation that included the sheriff making racist remarks about black people and the state attorney general. 

Saudino, a 47-year veteran of law enforcement, stepped down at 3 p.m., as did all four his undersheriffs -- two of whom were involved in the recorded conversation, according to the source who provided the tape.

On the tape, Saudino, a white Democrat, disparaged black people and said they shouldn't be let into his county. (See full recording below.) He described state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, whom he worked with for years, as being nothing more than an unqualified minority. And then he admitted to breaking a rule involving the use of his officers.

Saudino's conversation last winter was recorded by a person in the room and provided, late Wednesday night, to WNYC. Saudino's spokesperson was asked about the recording on Thursday at 7 a.m. By noon, Gov. Phil Murphy, a fellow Democrat, was calling for him to resign. A long list of Democrats followed suit: Two congressmen, the Bergen County executive and the leaders of the state legislature. 

But Saudino dug in his heels, releasing a statement Thursday night to apologize, but refusing to step down. 

On Friday, Saudino skipped a public event and didn't show up to the office. By mid-afternoon he announced his resignation.

The sheriff's office sixth-in-command, Chief Kevin Pell, will run the department pending Murphy's appointment of an interim sheriff. The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office will oversee operations, according to Grewal, the attorney general. An election for the next sheriff will be held in November 2019.

"The fact that a top official could make racist comments about the African-American community — and that no one in the room would challenge or correct him — raises serious concerns," Grewal said in a written statement. Notably, he did not mention Saudino's racist slander that Murphy only appointed Grewal because of "the turban." 

"The overwhelming majority of law enforcement officers in Bergen County and across New Jersey are honorable public servants who care deeply about the work they do and the way they do it," Grewal said. "Their good work — performed day-in, day-out — is ultimately what will help repair the damage brought about by Sheriff Saudino's highly inappropriate comments."

Grewal also raised the possibility of an investigation into the sheriff's office. A newly launched Office of Public Integrity and Accountability will work with the prosecutor's office to examine "whether there are deeper issues that warrant a wider investigation."

The recording was secretly taped on the day of Murphy's inauguration after Saudino returned from the ceremony. Saudino is heard telling colleagues what Murphy said in his speech:

"He talked about the whole thing, the marijuana, sanctuary state...better criminal justice reform. Christ almighty, in other words let the blacks come in, do whatever the f*** they want, smoke their marijuana, do this do that, and don't worry about it. You know, we'll tie the hands of cops."

Later in the recording Saudino admits to breaking a rule about corrections officers on the K-9 unit. That refers to how the county police department was recently disbanded and absorbed into the sheriff's department, putting Saudino in charge of corrections officers, police officers and sheriff's officers. Police officers laid off in this process say corrections officers assigned to the county jail are now doing police jobs on the street that they are unqualified for -- like working on the K-9 unit.

The admission from Saudino that he misused his force could be fodder for a state investigation.

The sheriff's office is the largest law enforcement agency in New Jersey’s most populous county. It run the jail, which now mostly operates as a contracted detention center for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. More than 500 immigrants from New York are detained there in unusually difficult conditions: They are not allowed to make physical contact with their children and spouses.

Saudino was making $130,000 in the job, plus another $130,000 a year for a pension he received as a retired police chief.

Murphy on Friday promised to restore faith in the sheriff’s office, and make sure "bigoted beliefs displayed by the former sheriff are not given shelter." He said the interim sheriff he appoints will rebuild the public’s trust.

Saudino's resignation statement was curt. It included neither regrets nor an apology. 

Here is the full audio recording provided to WNYC, with the names of non-elected officials beeped out to protect their privacy: