HAMPTON COUNTY, VA – Since 1992, the people of Hampton County and Newport News have elected and re-elected B.J. Roberts to serve as sheriff. After nearly 30 years of service to the community, Roberts announced earlier this year he would be retiring from the job. On Christmas Day, he passed away.
“It is with deep sadness that the Hampton Sheriff’s Office releases that our beloved leader, Sheriff B.J. Roberts, transitioned peacefully at his home the morning of December 26 after celebrating Christmas Day with his family,” the Hampton County Sheriff’s Department said. “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.”
In June of 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.