Jail Recertification
by Paula Miller

Norfolk Sheriff Bob McCabe is pleased to report that the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office has received 100 percent on the Virginia Department of Corrections Compliance Audit.

As a result, the DOC certification team will recommend that our facility be unconditionally certified.

Sheriff McCabe called the DOC news “a remarkable achievement given all of the challenges that you face on a daily basis in this profession.”

We did some checking and found out that we have had 100 % compliance on our annual inspections every year since 2005.

Congratulations to everyone on this well-deserved honor!

2011 Sheriff Bob McCabe College Scholarship Winners
by Paula Miller

The Sheriff Bob McCabe Foundation is pleased to announce this year’s recipients of $1,000.00 college scholarships, awarded to five recently graduated Norfolk High School Students who will all be studying at Virginia colleges.   At the awards ceremony two $500.00 checks were also presented on behalf of the Virginia Sheriffs’ Institute which awards tuition assistance to Criminal Justice majors.  

Pictured left to right are Dr. Kirk Houston, Chairman of the Norfolk School Board; Rich Radford accepting a check for his son Kevin from Maury High School (Kevin had undergone dental surgery); Garrett Brumfield, (ODU) and recipient of a VSI check; Sage Hill (Lake Taylor); Alyssa James (Granby); Katie Drumheller (Norview); Sheriff McCabe; not pictured:  Jameika Simmons (Booker T. Washington). 

Also awarded a Virginia Sheriffs’ Institute check was Connie Fennell of Norfolk.

Connie will begin her first year studies at Virginia Wesleyan College where she plans to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Forensics. 

Best of Luck to All of Our 2011 Scholarship Winners!

NSO Earns On-the-Job Training Certification From the Department of Veterans Affairs- Paving the Way for Additional Pay for Some NSO Vets!
by Paula Miller

NSO veterans (including reservists) who started at the NSO in July 2010 or after may be entitled to full monthly VA benefits for as long as a year or as otherwise outlined by the VA.  The benefit and length of payment will be determined by their apprenticeship (training).   For NSO personnel the rate could be as much as an additional $1,069.50 in monthly pay!

The NSO pursued the VA benefits for its uniform personnel after realizing its training facility and program met Veterans Affairs guidelines.   After that, program certification was requested and granted.  Sgt. Darrell Freeman, Officer in Charge of NSO Personnel says, “this is an unbelievable benefit we can offer some of our NSO veterans and reservists.”   Freeman added, “We are thrilled we’re eligible for the VA benefit payments and I’m certain a number of NSO deputies and NSO personnel will be eligible.”  For more information, call Sgt Freeman at 441-2923.

Deputies of the Year

Congratulations to our NSO Personnel who were named
Outstanding Deputies of the Year by Norfolk American Legion and VFW Posts!

Deputy Charles Bishop (VFW Post 4809)

Deputy Derrick Hayes (VFW Post 3160)

Deputy Kiesha Washington (American Legion Post 327)

2011 Sheriff Bob McCabe Foundation Sports Camp
by Paula Miller

Tony Brothers (NBA Referee) and Coach Zeke Avery  (Hampton University) address a gathering of preteens on June 27th-the start of the four day sports camp sponsored by the Sheriff Bob McCabe Foundation.   The camp attracted nearly 100 campers each day and many enjoyed hearing the stories of  local high school athletes who made it to the big leagues and who never lost touch with their communities.

Football Hall of Famer Bruce Smith points to his bronze bust awarded to him after being inducted in 2009.  (The bust is being held by NSO Master Deputy Donta Murphy).

Hank Sawyer, Football Coach at Lake Taylor High School is shown above helping an aspiring player with his stance.  Sawyer and members of his high school team gave generously of their time at the camp, assisting the young athletes with skills and drills that will one day help them play at a higher level.

 

Norfolk Sheriff's Office Oversees the Return of Safety City
by Paula Miller

The lights have been turned out on Norfolk’s Safety City for the past two and a half years.  But this spring the miniature city, formerly run by the Norfolk Police Department and an independent board of volunteers, made a return with the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office at the helm.
 
The mini city is designed to teach school-age children about safety awareness.    Located on the edge of the Norfolk Zoological Park, Safety City paints a realistic picture of the landmarks and challenges people face every day while navigating around their city.

Norfolk’s public and private school children in grades K-3 receive lessons in pedestrian awareness, traffic laws, seat belt safety and street smarts, in general.  There are miniature buildings to maneuver, including city hall, a fire station and businesses, and there are flashing stop lights and signs to help children learn the rules of the road.  There are also dozens of new and gently used bicycles parked in Safety City for hands-on lessons in bike safety and sharing the road.

The opening of The Tide, Norfolk’s Light Rail system, will be another topic for discussion of rail crossing safety.

Captain Steve Duke who oversees the program says the outdoor classroom has endless possibilities.  “We’re already considering the space for expansion of the NSO’s Safety Print program which provides fingerprint identification cards of young children,” said Duke.

Sheriff Bob McCabe always hoped the outdoor classroom wouldn’t sit idle for long.
Safety City provides other opportunities for the public.  There’s  spacious interior classroom areas in addition to the outdoor streetscapes.  Sheriff McCabe’s goal is to allow community groups and service organizations to use the classrooms for meeting space.

The zoo donated the building.   The miniature mockups were built with donations from local businesses.  The street signs reflect safety messages and the names of other supporting businesses.  And, the sheriff’s Inmate Work Force helped spruce up the area prior to Safety City welcoming its first school tours on April 1st.