we begin with a stunning tragedy out of pic County where longtime Sheriff Richard Berdnik fatally shot himself Tuesday afternoon inside the bathroom of a Clifton restaurant according to County officials berdnick had just come from a ceremony in Patterson honoring the restaurant owner with a key to the city friends family and colleagues say they're heartbroken and searching for answers to his death which is under investigation by the Passaic County prosecutor's office prior to becoming sheriff in 2011 berdnick led a distinguished career the lifelong Clifton Resident was a 28-year veteran of the city's Police Department a graduate of the FBI National Academy a husband and father of four as Melissa Rose Cooper reports bernick's death is sending shock waves throughout the state obviously our county is devastated and shocked this is something that no one in our area would have expected Passaic Mayor Hector Lora still can't believe he won't have the chance again to speak with his longtime friend and colleague pic County Sheriff Richard berdnick berdnick died by suicide yesterday after law enforcement say he shot himself inside the bathroom of Toro's restaurant in his hometown of Clifton his death now leaving those who knew and loved him with more questions than answers apparently took a picture right before going in it's on social media with the owner of the establisher one of the owners this was very much like the sheriff if you came up and asked him for a picture he would take one with you the sheriff was an amazingly loving father a proud grandfather a person of deep faith and conviction this is someone that by all accounts and appearances was uh in love with his position his family his life his faith he let his faith drive him to serve others today friends and colleagues are remembering burden commitment to serving the community prior to becoming Sheriff he served in the Clifton police force for 28 years Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh calling him an exemplary law enforcement leader and a cherished friend attorney general Matt Platkin saying Bernick dedicated his life to serving the residents of Passaic County and its municipalities after retiring from the Clifton Police Department he continued his his service as Passaic County Sheriff.

This is an unfathomable loss for New Jersey and Senator Cory Booker saying he leaves behind a legacy of sacrifice and service his passing is a terrible loss to the county and states he served for so many years my thought so with his loved ones in this time of grief this is an individual that began his career in Passaic, New Jersey right here in this city as an auxiliary police officer volunteer and he also was a volunteer Park police officer then he went to be a Clifton police officer he was a volunteer here in 1978 in the 80s and Beyond he was a Clifton police officer for about 28 years and he graduated from the FBI Academy after that he became a Passaic County sheriff and the coordinator for the office of emergency management he had a meeting scheduled today with our OEM coordinator and the coordinators from around the county so every indication shows that this is an individual that was still committed to his position his uh his commitment to serve uh the community I feel for his family and his children his family in uniform as well his family of friends all those who knew him knew him as a as a real gentleman and neighbors who live near this restaurant say they still can't believe something like this happened so close to home what say man nobody lost a life is not good in any capacity you mean it's not regardless of what you feel or how you feel about that person or what his job was.

Bernick's passing comes days after announcing plans to lay off nearly 30 Corrections Officers after the county jail shut down and after the US Department of Justice charged three officers with beating an inmate authorities have yet to confirm any details of the investigation but Laura is asking people to hold off judgment and keep bernick's family in their thoughts berdnick served as Passaic County Sheriff since 2011 his friends and colleagues say he'll be truly missed for NJ Spotlight news I'm Melissa Rose Cooper