BALDWINSVILLE — After nearly 55 years dedicated to public service, Van Buren Town Justice Ed Van Der Water is hanging up his robe and gavel. The former Syracuse City Police officer, who has served as judge since 1992, is retiring.
Van Der Water, a lifelong Baldwinsville resident, recently reflected on his service to the town in an interview with the Messenger.
“It’s been an absolute amazing journey,” he said of his career.
Van Der Water worked his way up through the ranks of the Syracuse Police Department, retiring after 25 years as deputy chief.
“I had a number of pretty good job offerings, but I didn’t accept them. When I started to think about why — what was missing with them — it was an opportunity to serve the public,” he said.
So, he decided to run for town justice.
“I became a judge because I found I missed public service and serving the public good,” he said.
Over the years, Van Der Water served as president of both the Onondaga County and New York State Magistrates Associations.
While he has found satisfaction in trying to “craft justice,” as he called it, Van Der Water said he also takes pride in trying to improve training and technology for town justices and their courts.
“In addition to doing the best job you can at whatever it is you do, you should also give some time to make the system better,” he said. “We’ve lobbied for improved training for judges. When I got here, the town court did not have a fax machine. Eventually through a state program we applied and we got a fax machine.”
Van Der Water and the magistrates associations have lobbied legislators to fund training and equipment for local judges.
“It’s an endless effort — and it’s been an endless amount of success — in getting more and more technology and other things to harness in the work of the court,” he said. “I’ve met so many really well-intended people who roll up their sleeves to do the right thing.”
While he has fond memories of his nearly 30 years as a judge, Van Der Water said the system is not perfect.
“I wish the system at this stage was able to craft better justice in more cases,” he said. “You see victims all the time, both as a policeman and here, so you see the casualties of life. For people that work in the system, sometimes it has the effect of hurting their spirit.”
Typically, town justices like Van Der Water and fellow Van Buren Judge Darlene Kane deal with vehicle and traffic matters, zoning matters, and civil law involving evictions or small claims. Sometimes, town justices conduct arraignments for homicides and other felonies, and then those cases are transferred to a higher court. Van Der Water said he has also had to handle environmental conservation, ag and markets, and Raise the Age (RTA) arraignments for 16- and 17-year-olds when Family Court is not in session.
“You have to have a lot of energy and time and you need to spend a lot of time making sure you’re up on the law — both statutory and case law,” he said.
Van Der Water wished to express his appreciation to Van Buren voters “for returning me to office over and over again so I could work on their behalf.”
“I’ve been blessed with people that have supported me and helped me to continue working for the public good over these years,” he said.
As for what’s next for Van Der Water, he plans to enjoy life in B’ville with his children and grandchildren. Unlike many retirees, he has no plans to travel.
“I’m not looking to escape,” he said. “I’m just fortunate to be here.”
