Hampton sheriff opts for early retirement
City will ask courts to not hold special election
HAMPTON — Virginia’s longest serving sheriff, B.J. Roberts, plans to retire Jan. 1, about 10 months before his term expires.
With the pending vacancy, the Hampton City Council expects to vote Wednesday to request the Circuit Court not hold a special election to fill his unexpired seat. As per state law, the city can make that request if the vacancy of a constitutional officer occurs within 12 months to end of that term, which in Roberts’ case would be Nov. 2, 2021. With that request, the highest ranking deputy will take over, according to Virginia code.
Roberts, then 70, said in February he would not seek reelection to what would have been his eighth term.
Col. Karen Bowden is Hampton’s undersheriff but it’s not clear who would take over Roberts’ role. Officials at the sheriff ’s office did not immediately return a request for comment on why Roberts is
retiring early.
According to council documents, the city is making the request because of the short amount of time between his retirement and the next election.
A native of South Carolina, Roberts was educated in Hampton and is the first African American to serve as president of the National Sheriffs Association, an honor he received in 2010.
He began his tenure in 1992, following a special election. He assumed command of a city jail system that was grossly overcrowded and among many jails around Hampton Roads under scrutiny by federal authorities in 1995.
In a few years, Roberts turned a lot of that around, built a new jail facility, secured better health care for inmates and added programs to improve recidivism rates.
Mayor Donnie Tuck praised Roberts, noting he had little to work with when he arrived and did much to improve the city’s jail system.
“I think it’s a loss for the city. He has been a tremendous asset,” Tuck said. “They almost threatened to close the jail. He’s brought the jail a long, long way.”
Hampton police Sgt. Curtis Cooper, a 35-year veteran of the
force, is planning a run for the sheriff ’s seat, a post he has sought before.
Cooper said he wanted to petition the courts to hold a special election, because he heard Roberts might retire early.
“I knew he wasn’t going to stay,” Cooper said. “We’ll let the voters have their say come 2021. I will be planning for the primary election
(in June) and look forward to being the candidate in November.”
Cooper added he would like to congratulate Roberts on his retirement, his accomplishments and for serving the people of Hampton well.