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.
Hampton Sheriff B.J. Roberts, the first African-American to be sworn in as President of the National Sheriff’s Association in 2010 passed away on Dec. 26, 2020.