A New Jersey law enforcement main accused of producing derogatory remarks about the nation’s first Sikh attorney basic and the state’s initial Asian American county prosecutor is stepping down, the Union County Prosecutor’s Workplace reported in a assertion Monday.

Fanwood Law enforcement Chief Richard Trigo informed the prosecutor’s business and borough council late Friday that he would be stepping down powerful Monday, the assertion said.

Trigo’s lawyer, Joshua McMahon, informed NBC Information on Monday that the chief did not resign or give up.

“Any assertion to the opposite is categorically and demonstrably fake,” McMahon stated. “Main Trigo experienced earlier begun the approach to retire on Sept. 1, 2020 and, right up until that time, elected to take leave to take care of a relatives-linked wellness difficulty.”

On July 4, an audio recording was posted to YouTube in which Trigo allegedly states previous performing Union County Prosecutor Grace Park “is very incredibly hot” and “she acquired huge kinds.” He also allegedly calls her “Chinese.” Park was the very first Asian American county prosecutor in New Jersey and the initially female and minority to direct the prosecutor’s business in Union County. Park is a member of the Council of Korean People in america.

Trigo also allegedly refers to New Jersey Lawyer Normal Gurbir S. Grewal, the nation’s first Sikh point out lawyer common, as “that f—— person with the turban” and says, “I wanna pull him like a best.”

It is unclear when the alleged audio is from. The user who posted the online video, Fanwood Uncovered, could not be achieved as there was no option to message their account on YouTube. It is unclear who is connected to the account.

Acting Union County Prosecutor Lyndsay Ruotolo mentioned in a statement Wednesday that her business office has opened an investigation into the recording and that Trigo wants to “quickly phase down” or disciplinary motion have to be initiated to eliminate him from place of work if it is authenticated.

In a statement Friday, Trigo’s lawyer claimed the recordings were being “manipulated and spliced.” McMahon declined to remark Monday when asked if he or Trigo disputes that the voice on the recording is Trigo’s.

“Chief Trigo, the to start with Spanish police Main in Fanwood’s record, denies building any inappropriate reviews,” McMahon mentioned in a assertion. “These altered recordings have unquestionably been manipulated and spliced jointly by people upset with the reform and development the Fanwood Law enforcement Department has built underneath Chief Trigo’s leadership, which include the Main individually hiring and selling far more minorities than any Chief in Fanwood’s heritage.”

McMahon also mentioned Friday that Trigo “remains fully commited to the neighborhood and bringing persons together, as he has performed for approximately 3 decades.” McMahon said he was confident Ruotolo “will abide by the extensive-standing norms of her workplace, and not remark on or prejudge the merits of any ongoing investigation, which the chief welcomes.”

Grewal condemned the feedback very last week and explained that if Trigo created them in entrance of other law enforcement officers, “they should really have referred to as out and described the speaker’s blatant misogyny and racism. For the reason that when an officer behaves in this fashion, it tarnishes the standing and great operate of the huge the greater part of officers who know that this conduct has no spot in regulation enforcement or in our society.”

“If the remarks in the recording had been, in point, designed by Chief Trigo, this is still one particular much more motive why we need to keep on building a lifestyle of accountability in policing in New Jersey,” Grewal mentioned in a assertion. “Plainly, other folks had been in the space when these reviews were being purportedly produced by a law enforcement executive, and they did nothing.”

Sharon Lauchaire, a spokeswoman for the legal professional general’s business office, declined to comment Monday about Trigo stepping down.

Trigo did not promptly return requests for remark.

Ruotolo explained Monday her office was doing exercises its supersession authority to quickly oversee operations of the Fanwood Police Department.

Capt. Kevin Grimmer and detective Nicholas Falcicchio, both of the prosecutor’s business office, will assume management of day-to-day operations of the police drive starting Monday though a look for is carried out for a new chief.