Edition: January/February 2025

It’s hard to believe we are already one month in to 2025. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and are back in the swing of things and looking forward to a great year ahead.

We are already off to a busy start with a lot of fundraisers for the various charities we support, the upcoming annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, numerous career day events, sports camps, Camp HOPE Norfolk, and more.

I say it often, but it’s worth repeating, the purpose of the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office is to make a positive difference in the lives of others as far as we can reach. So please continue to look for ways you can help each other, your neighbors. and those throughout our community.

So far this year we have already had a number of exciting things happen. As you’ll read in the newsletter below, Captain Richardson is attending the FBI National Academy, the NSO was recognized as an Outstanding Community Partner by a local elementary school, and the Training Division received reaccreditation from DCJS. Thank you to each of you who work hard to make the NSO an example for other agencies throughout the Commonwealth. I’m proud to be the leader of this organization and work alongside you all. 

Captain Heather Richardson was selected to represent the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office at the National FBI Academy in Quantico. Not only was she selected, but she is the first person from the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office to attend the FBI Academy!

Four times a year, the National Academy in Quantico hosts over 250 local, state, federal, and international leaders in law enforcement. Captain Richardson is part of the 293 Class of the National Academy. Throughout the 10-week program, which began on January 4, 2025 and ends with Graduation on  March 13, 2025, attendees receive training in a number of areas of law enforcement including terrorism, forensic science, and law enforcement communication. 

This year, Deputy P. McKeon and his partner, Sharon Albright, will be competing against teams from other local law enforcement agencies and would love your support. The event will be held on March 23, 2025 at the Chesapeake Conference Center. All of the money raised during the event will be donated to Special Olympics Virginia.

Congratulations to everyone who was promoted during the ceremony on December 2nd.

We would also like to congratulate everyone who was recognized with Continuous Service Awards and Employee of the Quarter Awards. All of the photos from the ceremony can be viewed by clicking the button below.

On November 21, 2024, the recruits of Session 74 were sworn in and celebrated during their Graduation ceremony at the Norfolk Consolidated Courthouse. Congratulations to Deputy R. Moore, Deputy S. Carrington, and Deputy S. Harris who were sworn in as Norfolk Sheriff's Office's newest deputies. They were joined by Jailor P. Abdon and Jailor A. Pellegrino who were sworn in as Jailors for Western Tidewater Regional Jail.

Twenty-six recruits began the Norfolk Sheriff's Office Training Academy on January 21, 2025 as part of the 75th Session. Throughout the first two weeks of the Academy, they have been focusing on physical fitness, classroom work, and team building. Session 75 is scheduled to last 18 weeks and graduation will be May 22, 2025.

Each May, members of Law Enforcement United (LEU) come together from all over the country and travel, by bike, to Washington, D.C. in memory of fallen officers. The 250+ mile bike ride is called the Law Enforcement United Road to Hope. The team arrives in Washington, D.C. on May 12th just in time to participate in Police Week activities.

This year we are excited to have several members of the Norfolk Sheriff's Office participating in the 2025 Road to Hope. Known by their team name, The Guardians of Norfolk, Lieutenant Colonel Adams, Lt. Tolbert, Sgt. Little, Master Deputy Tardy, Master Deputy Parker, Master Deputy Chisholm, Deputy Tolbert, Deputy McKeon, and Master Deputy Chisholm's wife, Kelli, will join hundreds of riders for the three-day, 250+ mile ride. This year they are riding in memory of Norfolk Sheriff's Office Cpl. Gibran Barclift who died in the line of duty on August 16, 2017.

Training and fundraising has already begun. Please scan the QR code or visit the website below if you'd like to support them by making a donation to their team page.

Congratulations to Deputy M. Hansen on her recent graduation from Tidewater Community College. She graduated with an Associate Degree in Applied Science in Criminal Justice on December 16, 2024. In addition to obtaining her degree, she also graduated with Summa Cum Laude honors.

Well done!

Congratulations to Undersheriff Colonel M. O'Toole who was recently sworn in for his fourth term on the Norfolk Community Services Board (CBS). Col. O'Toole serves as the Sheriff's Office representative to the CSB and has served on the board for the past 9 years.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2024 Gingerbread House Fundraiser. We had so many wonderful entries and we hope you all had a lot of fun creating them.

Congratulations to Deputy Recruit MacDonald who received the most votes and won first place for his entry named the "811 resort!"

Congratulations to the NSO Training Division who recently received recertification by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). During the audit, the auditors meticulously go through all the curriculums to ensure every training method has been tested. The auditors were extremely impressed with our staffs quick response to finding and locating anything that was missing. They commended the Training Division on their professionalism and their working relationship with everyone in the organization from the Command Staff down. They stated the “staff is on top of it” and are “top notch.” Great job, everyone!!

The Norfolk Sheriff’s Office received the Community Partner Excellence Award from Coleman Place Elementary School during a ceremony on Friday, January 31, 2025. The award was presented to Lt. Serrano and Julia Dunn in recognition of the community programs the NSO provides including collecting and distributing coats for students, distributing turkeys at Christmas and Thanksgiving, and Shop with a Deputy events. 

Congratulations to Senior Deputy Johnson who was recognized as the Deputy of the Year during the annual Tidewater Post 327 American Legion Law and Order Awards Ceremony held on January 28, 2025. Senior Deputy Johnson was recognized for his response to an incident that occurred while working in an off-duty capacity near Baxter’s on Granby Street.  Senior Deputy Johnson responded to an unresponsive individual at Baxter’s. Upon assessing the situation, Senior Deputy Johnson administered two doses of Narcan, which caused the man to react initially before he went limp and stopped breathing. Senior Deputy Johnson then performed CPR until EMS arrived to take over. It was said by multiple people on scene that if not for Senior Deputy Johnson’s quick thinking, the male subject would have likely died. 

Have you seen the new Norfolk Sheriff’s Office graphics on our fleet vehicles? At the end of last year a new graphics package was unveiled and placed on multiple Explorers in the fleet.



There are currently two new Explorers with the new graphics and two older model Explorers with the new graphics in use.

You can see the new graphics on vehicles in Civil Process, Transportation, and Community Affairs, with more to come in the near future! Special thanks to Master Deputy Drowns and Fred Little for their work on updating the graphics and working with the various shops to get the vehicles ready to hit the road. 

Since October the NSO Community Affairs Division has been collecting coats to distribute throughout the community. They have been able to distribute coats to many school aged children and to shelters.

Thank you to everyone who donated coats during the coat drive.

In early January, with snow in the forecast, the NSO Community Affairs Division spent time delivering warm weather gear to several community partners.

They stopped by the NSO Civil Process Division and dropped off 50 blankets for Civil Process deputies to distribute to those in need in the community. Then, they visited both the Norfolk Animal Care Center and the Norfolk SPCA where they dropped off blankets for the animals. They also delivered coats, socks, and blankets to the Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception for their upcoming winter shelter. Additionally, they delivered warm winter coats to students at Suburban Park Elementary.

Upon receiving the blankets, Civil Process deputies began passing them out to unhoused individuals throughout Norfolk.

Thank you to everyone who helped make the December 2024 Red Cross Blood Drive a success. Thanks to all of our donors we exceeded our goal for the blood drive! Our next blood drive will be the Mayor's Cup Blood Drive and will be held on June 11, 2025. Stay tuned for more details. 

The annual Grand Illumination Parade is always a fun time! Thanks to Community Affairs for putting together a great float to represent the NSO and to everyone who walked in the parade. Thank you, also, to everyone who worked the event to ensure the safety of everyone visiting Downtown Norfolk that night. 

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Shop with a Deputy events. This year we partnered with Walmart for two events, one at the Tidewater Drive store and one at the Military Highway store. Walmart donated $50 gift cards for each child and between the two events we helped more than 20 kids find toys and check items off their wish lists. Along the way, we spread a little Christmas cheer and helped them have a wonderful holiday!

Are you looking for a way to meaningfully contribute to your community? Do you want to help create positive change and make a lasting positive impact in the lives of others? The NSO Community Affairs Division is calling on passionate, dedicated individuals like you to volunteer and support our mission.

Why Volunteer with Us?



Volunteering is a powerful way to connect with others, share your skills, and make a difference in your local area.

By volunteering with the NSO Community Affairs Division, you will be part of efforts working to improve the lives of those around us through various programs, initiatives, and events. Whether you can volunteer for a few hours or if you're available for more, your involvement will help strengthen the community and create positive change. Additionally, your time will be tracked and submitted for the Volunteer Ribbon or Pin.

What We Do

Our Community Affairs Division works on a range of projects, including:

1. Community Outreach: Senior Watch Program, Life Enrichment Center (Tutoring), Shop with a Deputy, vendor at community events and festivals.
2. Event planning and organization: city parades, senior TRIAD meetings, Senior Fest, Trunk or Treat, Turkey Holiday Deliveries, donation drives (coats, food, animals, displaced families) 
3. Youth Programs: Summer youth camps to include sports camps, youth mentorship with Camp HOPE Norfolk, safety kid prints, and career fairs.

As a volunteer, you will have the opportunity to get involved in any or all areas, depending on your interests and skill level. Whether you're helping with event logistics, assisting with community outreach, or offering support to vulnerable populations, your contributions will directly affect the lives of individuals in the community.

How to Get Involved

If you're ready to help us make a difference, it's simple to get started! You can sign up by emailing Master Deputy DJ Brown dj.brown@norfolk-sheriff.com or julia.dunn@norfolk-sheriff.com. You’ll receive all the training and support you need to get started, and our team will work with you to find opportunities that match your interests and availability.



Volunteering with our Community Affairs Division is a rewarding and fulfilling experience. By donating your time and energy, you'll not only help those in need but also build connections and strengthen the bonds that make our community a wonderful place to live. Together, we can create a better future and continue to uplift those around us.



Sign up today to start making a difference!

2/8/25 - POLAR PLUNGE

2/15/25 - RELAY FOR LIFE BOWLING TOURNAMENT

2/26 and 2/27/25 - LEU FISH FRY FUNDRAISER

3/15/25 - OCEAN VIEW ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE (**VOLUNTEERS NEEDED**)

3/23/25 - DANCING WITH THE ATHLETES

5/22/25 - 75TH SESSION

ACADEMY GRADUATION

6/4/25 - LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS

6/16/25 - NSO YOUTH

SOCCER CAMP

6/20/25 - NSO YOUTH FOOTBALL CAMP

The NSO Relay for Life team will host the 4th Annual Relay for Life Bowling Tournament on February 15, 2025. Registration ends on February 9, 2025, so reserve your spot early!!!

Click on the registration form button below to be taken to the registration form. 

 If you have any questions, please contact Senior Deputy A. Klutts or Penny Dunn. 

Team NSO is registered for the 2025 Polar Plunge and we are looking for people to join our team. The 2025 Polar Plunge will be held on February 8, 2025 at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Participants must raise $100 in order to plunge, but money raised through fundraising could potentially cover some of the costs. In addition to the Polar Plunge, Special Olympics Virginia will be hosting a 5K on Friday, February 7, 2025 on the boardwalk.

Scan the QR code above to join the NSO Polar Plunge Team! 

The Sheriff Joe Baron Foundation is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) charitable organization founded by Sheriff Joe Baron of the Norfolk (VA) Sheriff’s Office in 2017

The Foundation was established in 2017 and is the main source of revenue for all of the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office community outreach and is a means for the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office to give back to the community we serve and provide programs for seniors, youth, and citizens throughout the community.

In case you missed it, the Sheriff Joe Baron Foundation (SJBF) now has a website, a Facebook page, and a new logo. Please visit the links below and help us spread the word! 

Do you have something you would like to see included in the NSO Times? Email the information and accompanying pictures/graphics to

jamie.bastas@norfolk-sheriff.com.