Passaic County Sheriff's Office layoffs expected in July. Here's what we know

Layoffs are coming to the Passaic County Sheriff's Office in July, but how many is still unknown, county officials said.

Initial information released early in January had the department laying off 29 correctional officers. The newest numbers released this week show that 19 correctional officers may face layoffs, said Passaic County public information officer Keith Furlong.

"The commissioners have held off as long as possible," Furlong said, adding that the county is trying to find other positions for officers.

Layoffs tied to closing of county's jail

The move to lay off officers took some time, but it was perhaps inevitable once the county decided in December 2021 to close its jail and move its inmates to the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack.

The county's plan came after bail reform in 2017 reduced the jail's population from more than 1,000 at times to less than capacity. With the jail's closing, fewer correctional officers are needed, officials said.

More: Passaic County announces $773,000 in grants for towns, nonprofits. See the list

Union officials were not available to comment, but they previously said county officials had made assurances there would be no layoffs early in the talks of closing the jail. Previously, John Welsh, the union president for the officers, said he wasn't surprised by the layoff announcement.

"Three years ago we were told no layoffs, but something changed about a year ago," Welsh said in January, referring to a memo released by then-Sheriff Richard Berdnik, who died shortly after of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

In the memo, Berdnik wrote to employees that there would be layoffs to reduce the size of the department. The layoffs, the memo said, would involve only correctional officers, not their supervisors or the civilian staff.

More: Millions in Passaic sheriff surveillance equipment locked away over national defense case

Berdnik also wrote he had "done everything" in his power "to find employment for all affected employees but unfortunately, we must move forward to lay off 29 correctional police officers at this time."

The state Civil Service Commission had approved the layoffs when the memo was dispersed, Sheriff's Office spokesman Bill Maer said at the time.

Furlong said the county decided the layoffs would not occur until the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Passaic County Sheriff's Office layoffs expected in July