James Viadero is a veteran law enforcement leader with a distinguished 40-year career in public service. As deputy director of Yale Public Safety, Viadero oversees the Yale Police Department (YPD) and Yale Security, strengthening the collaboration and alignment between the two units to meet the needs of the campus community. He brings expertise in setting and implementing strategic priorities, having previously led two Connecticut police departments.
Viadero began his career in law enforcement as a Bridgeport Police officer in 1985. He served in a range of assignments, from patrol officer to commander of the Training Academy, before attaining the rank of captain. As captain, he led the department’s Investigative Services Division and Emergency Services Unit. He retired in 2014 after nearly 30 years of service.
Following his retirement, Viadero served as the chief of police for the Town of Middlebury. In 2016, he was appointed chief of the Newtown Police Department, where he was instrumental in rebuilding agency morale and restoring operational and community engagement programs following the Sandy Hook tragedy. In 2018, he was recognized as “Distinguished Chief of the Year” by the Connecticut Police Commissioners Association. During his tenure as a police chief, Viadero served on a number of statewide committees, including the Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POSTC) where he helped develop standardized use of force and pursuit trainings and policies.
In 2022, Viadero was selected as chief inspector for the newly formed Office of the Inspector General. After three years in that role, he became the chief’s executive liaison with the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association. He also served as the chairman of the association’s wellness committee, implementing initiatives and trainings to improve the mental and physical health of CT police officers and recognizing agencies excelling in officer wellness.
Viadero is a graduate of the FBI National Academy (Class 222) and the Police Executive Research Forum’s (PERF) Senior Management Institute for Police. He also serves as an adjunct professor of criminal justice at Sacred Heart University, where he earned both his undergraduate and master’s degrees.
Outside of work, Viadero and his wife have been married for 38 years, and he is a longtime New York sports fan.