Thomas Adamo Elected Passaic County Sheriff, Vows To Serve Community He Calls Home

A lifelong Passaic County resident, Adamo won the election with 94,157 votes, while Maria Saracino, a detective captain with the county prosecutor's office, garnered 80,135.

The role has been vacant since January when then-Sheriff Richard Berdnik died by suicide in the bathroom of a Clifton restaurant.

Adamo’s career reflects his dedication and steady rise within law enforcement. Starting as a corrections officer with the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office, he quickly showed leadership: He was chosen as class president during his training at the Passaic County Police Academy in 1997. After graduating, he joined the Patrol Division.

Adamo’s commitment to public safety led him through various specialized roles. As a detective, he served in the Anti-Crime Unit and with the NJ DEA Task Force. His leadership skills earned him promotions over the years, including roles as sergeant of the Motorcycle/Traffic Unit, detective lieutenant leading the Narcotics and Criminal Investigations Divisions, and detective captain overseeing Special Investigations. 

His contributions to major operations, including hurricane response, and accolades like the Valor Award, highlight his dedication to Passaic County. 

This victory didn’t come easy to Adamo, who first faced a challenging primary where he competed against former Sheriff Jerry Speziale, a well-known figure in county law enforcement. In the general election, he went head-to-head with Saracino, the first woman to run for Passaic County Sheriff.

Voters ultimately leaned toward Adamo, valuing his commitment to continuity and his proven track record. 

Now, all eyes are on him. 

"WE DID IT, PASSAIC COUNTY!" Adamo said in a statement after winning the election Tuesday night, Nov. 5. 

"I couldn't be more thrilled and grateful for the trust you’ve placed in me to serve as your next Sheriff. Thank you to everyone who believed in my vision and supported my campaign. Together we will now move Passaic County forward!"

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