The region is mourning Hampton Sheriff B.J. Roberts, who died at home the morning of Dec. 26 after celebrating Christmas Day with his family.
Roberts was Virginia’s longest serving sheriff and had announced plans to retire Jan. 8.
“Under Roberts’ leadership, the Hampton Sheriff’s Office demonstrated a Commitment to Excellence. In 2009 the office was awarded the coveted Nationally Accredited Triple Crown award, achieving simultaneous accreditation from the American Correctional Association, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
In June 2010, Sheriff Roberts was sworn in as the 69th president of the National Sheriff’s Association (NSA). Roberts’ swearing in as president of NSA marked the first and only African-American in the 70 year history of the organization to preside over its 18,990 members.
Sheriff Roberts announced earlier this month his plans to retire from the position on January 8, 2021. Roberts served as Sheriff of Hampton for 28 years and was Virginia’s longest serving Sheriff. B.J. Roberts had nearly 50 years of combined dedicated law enforcement service on the Peninsula.
Roberts was first elected as Sheriff of Hampton in 1992 and was re-elected to serve six terms.
