Voting can feel like a waste of time, especially this year, if you focus only on the presidential race, but it’s not. It’s crucial for our community to make our voices matter and to impact the issues that can most directly affect our daily lives. “Many people don’t understand why we need to make the effort to vote for sheriff, for example,” said Teaneck Deputy Mayor Elie Katz. “It’s important that we re-elect Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino; that we show our support for this highly effective law-enforcement official who has shown such concern and support for our community.”
In local elections, often the office of greatest consequence is the sheriff, whose job it is to directly serve and protect the rights of the people, and not a commanding officer or any other part of government. The county sheriff is the only one who can say to the federal authorities, “Beyond these bounds you shall not pass.” This is not only within the scope of the sheriff’s authority, it’s the sheriff’s sworn duty.
“The leaders in law enforcement set the tone, and Mike Saudino absolutely deserves to be re-elected sheriff,” said Rabbi Abe Friedman, New Jersey State Police/NJ law enforcement chaplain, who serves as a liaison between the Jewish community and law enforcement. “Sheriff Saudino makes sure the Jewish community, and all our communities, are safe. He goes out into the nuts and bolts of the neighborhoods. He protects shuls.”
A 53-year resident of Bergen County and a 44-year veteran of law enforcement, Saudino began his term as sheriff of Bergen County in 2011 and was re-elected in 2013. Named “Man of the Year” in 2012 by New Jersey D.A.R.E. Officers Association and also in 2013 by the New Jersey State Troopers Coalition/National Police Defense Foundation. In 2016, Saudino has built a reputation for morality and compassion and has set a statewide precedent for New Jersey law enforcement to emulate. He received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, which recognizes those who share “their… indomitable courage, boundless compassion, unique talents and selfless generosity… as they uphold the ideals and spirit of America…” This honor has also been bestowed on six presidents of the United States.
“He is a person of great compassion. He is not a politician,” said Rabbi Friedman. “How a leader acts under pressure shows you who he or she is, and Sheriff Saudino has consistently demonstrated how responsive and sensitive to the needs of the community he is. A perfect example is the way he took charge when Devorah Stubin was reported missing last January 14.”
Stubin, a 22-year-old Passaic resident, was reported missing on a Thursday night. By Friday afternoon, a number of Jewish communities had united in a large-scale search initiated by Passaic Hatzolah, but were frustrated that police involvement was limited, according to several emergency workers and volunteers. “The police departments are not used to the way the Jewish community mobilizes in such large numbers so quickly for missing persons,” said Rabbi Friedman. “ Starting Friday night, over 500 volunteers from about two dozen Jewish organizations participated in the search throughout Shabbat. When you have law enforcement that is so sensitive to the specific nature and needs of our community, such as Sheriff Saudino, it makes these times so much easier for our communities, as it did in this tragic situation.”
“I was eating Shabbat dinner at my house when five emergency workers from Passaic came to my house looking for facilitation of a search,” said Katz. “ The case wasn’t being taken seriously because she wasn’t a minor, and hadn’t been missing for 24 hours. I reached out to Sheriff Saudino. He instantly canceled his plans for the evening and met with me. He used his position and strength, even though he has search and rescue teams he could have sent in his stead. He spent the entire weekend devoting himself and using his clout to marshal a search that had not been taken seriously until his involvement. Because of his intervention, calls were being made to police chiefs and bridge and tunnel departments, grids were being created and there was a huge staging area. He did all he could to help, staying through much of the night.”
“I’m privileged to have had the opportunity to lend a hand,” said Saudino. “What really impressed me was how the Jewish community came out. I understood and respected that they were using an immense pool of resources, and also that this was a Passaic County case, not Bergen. I didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes, I just wanted to share my resources and help in any way I could, which is what I find most gratifying, even though, obviously, the outcome was heartbreaking,” said Saudino. Unfortunately, her body was pulled January 16 from the Passaic River after the momentous search.
“Before he got involved, this was a volunteer search by laymen,” said Katz. “All the law enforcement who came out were under his auspices, and the media as a result of that. Saudino was there before the cameras, before the fanfare. As soon as he personally jumped in, there was a huge difference. He made it all happen, because he cared. Before his involvement, no one was making any real effort.”
Those interviewed said Sheriff Saudino offers the kind of sensitivity and intervention we need.
As local elections are often more important than national ones, election results on a local level are among the most significant ways to make our democracy truly representative. All agree that we cannot afford apathy. There’s no place where our voices can be heard more than in our own backyard.
By Lisa Matkowsky
