"Passaic County Sheriff Richard Berdnik's Tragic Suicide"

Passaic County Sheriff Richard Berdnik fatally shot himself inside a Clifton restaurant, prompting a large law enforcement response. Berdnik, a well-respected figure in North Jersey, had been sheriff since 2011 and was reelected in 2022. His sudden death shocked colleagues and local officials, who remembered him as a dedicated and caring individual. The incident occurred amid a challenging time for the sheriff's department, following the arrest of two sergeants and a sheriff’s officer and the subsequent layoff of 29 sheriff’s officers. Berdnik's family, including his wife and four adult children, and the community are left mourning his loss.