Longtime Passaic County Sheriff Richard Berdnik fatally shot himself inside the bathroom of a Clifton restaurant Tuesday afternoon. According to county officials, Berdnik had concluded an appearance at a ceremony in Paterson, where the owner of Toros restaurant was honored with a key to the city.

“Obviously, our county is very devastated and shocked,” Passaic Mayor Hector Lora said. “This is something that no one would’ve expected.”

Before becoming sheriff in 2011, Berdnik, a lifelong Clifton resident, was a 28-year veteran of the city’s police department. A graduate of the FBI National Academy, he was a father of four.

“He was an amazing, loving father,” Lora said, “a proud grandfather, a person of deep faith and conviction. This is someone by all accounts who was in love with his position, his family, his life, and his faith. He wanted to serve others.”

Berdnik’s death comes days after announcing plans to lay off nearly 30 corrections officers after the county jail shut down and after the U.S. Department of Justice charged three officers with beating an inmate. Authorities have yet to confirm any details of the investigation. Lora is asking people to hold off judgment and keep Berdnik’s family in their thoughts.