The New Jersey sheriff who was recorded making racist statements about black people and the state’s attorney general, who is Sikh, has apologized — but he refuses to resign.
“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,” Sheriff Michael Saudino said in a statement Thursday night.
“During my time as the Bergen County Sheriff I have worked hard to successfully increase the diversity of the membership in the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department,” he explained. “This increased diversity has been accomplished while working hand-in-hand with the members and leadership of our minority communities in Bergen County.
“In an effort to repair the damage to the friendships that I have built with these communities, I have reached out directly to several respected leaders in the communities I have offended and I have personally offered my apologies and I have asked for their forgiveness and for their communities’ forgiveness,” the sheriff added. “Going forward I will continue to treat everyone with the respect and dignity that is deserved by all and to be diligent in my duty to protect and defend the rights of all our residents.”
Saudino had been called to resign by Gov. Phil Murphy, Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and other officials on Thursday night after the recordings of his racist comments were released by WNYC.
“I’ve got thick skin and I’ve been called far worse, but the comments about the African-American community are wrong, racist and hurtful,” Grewal said after listening to the tapes. “New Jersey and Bergen County deserve better.”
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