Following the retirement of Justice Anthony Perry late last fall, the Sweden Town Board appointed Paul Vadas to the town justice position effective January 1. He will fill the unexpired term until December 31, 2025, and is standing for election in November to serve a full four-year term.
Vadas graduated from Niagara University in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice and then attended the Massachusetts Police Academy. He worked as a full-time police officer in Sterling, Massachusetts, while his wife pursued her doctorate in optometry. The couple moved back to western New York, first to Spencerport, where Mary opened an optometry practice, and then to the Town of Sweden in 2011. The couple has three adult children, two of whom live in Sweden, and now they also have two grandchildren.
Vadas was hired by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department in 1992, initially on road patrol. He became a handler in the canine unit starting in 1998 and was subsequently promoted to sergeant in 2003. In 2012, he was promoted to lieutenant and assigned to be watch commander, which included supervising the county road patrol. From 2015 to 2019, Vadas was in charge of Special Operations and a member of the US Marshall Fugitive Task Force. His responsibilities encompassed supervision of the K9 unit, Greater Rochester International Airport, Community Services Unit, Marine Unit, Mounted Patrol, and the Traffic Unit. Additionally, he was in charge of security operational plans for major special events, including presidential candidate visits, PGA and LPGA tournaments, and the Greater Rochester Airshow.
In his first few months as a Sweden Town Court Justice, Vadas has worked to create a fair, impartial, organized, and efficient courtroom. He credits his experienced court clerks with helping him acclimate to his new role. Vadas believes that communication was key to his successful law enforcement career and will be key as a town justice.
“It is imperative to understand another person’s viewpoint while maintaining the integrity of our laws and regulations and respecting the dignity of all those I encounter,” Vadas said. “I look forward to serving the Sweden community as a town justice in the years to come.”
Sweden Supervisor Patricia Hayles believes Vadas brings stellar qualifications to the justice position. “We were very fortunate that Paul stepped forward when we began our search for a new town judge. His credentials are impeccable, and his commitment to our community is well-known. We could not have found a better person to fill this office. I believe our residents will be very pleased with Paul’s fairness, wisdom, and demeanor in the courtroom.”
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