January 23rd marked a tragic day in Passaic County history. At around 3:30 pm, first responders rushed into Toros, a Turkish Restaurant in Clifton. This was in response to a gunshot that rang through the restaurant just moments earlier. Scouring the building, the reality of the situation soon became crystal clear. Richard Berdnik, the beloved Sheriff of NJ Passaic County, was found dead due to self-inflicted wounds. Just moments before, he genially interacted with his constituents, engaging in conversion and posing for photos. And within a blink of an eye, he was gone. 

Berdnik was a true leader in Passaic County. A model professional, he was elected as sheriff for 5 terms and gave over 40 years of his life to public service (28 years with the Clifton Police Department and 13 years as sheriff). Throughout his career, he received numerous awards and citations for his exceptional character and excellence. As sheriff, he helped to increase enforcement of criminal activity and restructured the department’s policies and organization to increase efficiency. But more importantly than his accolades was his contagious kindness and the illuminating effect he had on his co-workers and residents of Passaic County. 

While the investigation into Richard Bernick’s unexpected suicide is ongoing, such an unfortunate event bodes larger conversations about the mental health of our public officials. In the past several years, there have been a lot of people critical of the police and other public servants. But it’s important to remember that a couple of bad actors doesn’t define a whole field. And at the end of the day, we are all human beings and we shouldn’t forget that. 

Police officers have one of the most stressful jobs, having to experience gruesome events all the time and having to make split second decisions that could have massive consequences on livelihoods and on their careers. This may come as a shock, but police officers are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty. This is only made clearer by Sheriff Berdnik’s death. 

Now the question becomes what can we do about such a terrible situation. I believe that a three-pronged solution is necessary. First, routine wellness check ins for every officer need to be implemented at police departments across the state. Communication is often the key to mitigating future consequences of mental health issues and such check-ups create an inclusive environment where one would be comfortable discussing such topics. 

Also, while there are mental health resources available for law enforcement like “Cop2Cop” and “Copline”, there are numerous barriers that prevent cops from getting the therapy that they need. One way to tackle this issue involves expanding federal grant programs that actively fund mental health programs at police departments such as “LEMHWA” (Law Enforcement mental Health and Wellness Act). The problem with such programs at this current moment is that they are too narrow in scope and aren’t readily accessible to the large majority of departments. By expanding these programs, more and more departments will have adequate mental health resources to improve the well-being of our public officials. The last thing that must be done is more universal. When you meet someone, let alone a police officer, treat them with kindness. Make yourself an approachable, empathic person willing to listen to the issues of your peers. You might not know if someone is dealing with a lot of turmoil in their personal or professional lives,  so keeping a positive demeanor is essential to improving the mental health of those around you. After all, I’m sure that’s what Sheriff Richard Berdnik would’ve wanted. But hey, it’s just a thought!