The Norfolk Sheriff’s Office takes pride in being a progressive organization that provides an inclusive work environment and a diverse staff. Over the years, the NSO has built a solid relationship between the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community.

Continuing that relationship, Sheriff Joe Baron proudly announced in February the implementation of an on-staff LGBT liaison, Lieutenant Meryah Breeden. Corporal Xavier Kent will support her as the assistant LGBT liaison. Sheriff Baron is the first sheriff in Hampton Roads to initiate this type of position, which is similar to others recently created by police departments across the country.

On top of their normal duties,

Lieutenant Breeden’s and Corporal Kent’s roles will include serving as spokespeople for the NSO to local LGBT demographics, represent LGBT interests to the leaders of the NSO, as well as promoting the organization as a safe, hostile-free environment to work in, regardless of sexual orientation.

“We want to make sure our staff understands that they are fully supported if they want to attend events or volunteer for things that maybe in the past they didn’t feel comfortable doing. As an organization, we have their backs,” Lieutenant Breeden said.

Additionally, the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office is proud to have the full

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Norfolk Sheriff’s Office Implements First LGBT Liaison

Your Source for Norfolk Sheriff’s Office News

March 2017 Published Monthly

NSO Times

The following promotions became effective on Saturday, March 4, 2017:

PROMOTIONS:

Corporal Mears to SergeantMaster Deputy Wilson to CorporalDeputy McFerren to CorporalDeputy Moten to Corporal

A promotion ceremony was held on Friday, March 3, 2017 in the Training Academy Large Classroom.

The following transfers will be effective on Saturday, March 4, 2017:

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Inside• Staff Birthdays for March .................2• Help Our Inmates Reenter Society

Ready To Succeed ...............................3• Save The Dates: Sports Camps And

Summer Camps...................................4• Thanks To Downtown Norfolk

Council For Their “Random Act Of Kindness” ...............................................4

• NSO Deputies Play Important Role In “Operation Riptide” ......................5

• Inmate Workforce Crews Continue Tackling Projects At Rapid Pace ...6

• March Service Anniversaries .........6• NFL 360 film includes powerful

segment about Amos’ letter to Kaepernick ...........................................7

• Obituary - Retired Deputy Sheriff Emanuel “Top Brown” Brown Jr. Passes Away .........................................8

• About the online Staff Directory .8

Promotions and Transfers in March

More available on the NSO Times website at http://norfolk-sheriff.com/nso-times

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Sheriff Joe Baron with members of the LGBT Lia-son team at the announce-ment.

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support of Hampton Roads Pride, a local organization that unites the LGBT community and allied communities in support of inclusion, dignity, and equality.

“In any workplace, anytime you can make any effort to be more inclusive, you’re going to create an environment where people will be more likely to stay or want to join,” Michael Berlucchi, President of Hampton Roads Pride said.

Hampton Roads Pride vows to provide assistance and resources to the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office, if needed. “We are beyond excited to have their commitment to equality and for their service to the community,” Berlucchi added.

The staff at the NSO has been notified of this new initiative. Individuals are encouraged to seek out their liaisons to get involved in volunteer opportunities, ways to recruit others, or just talk about life.

“To think of where I was when I was in college, where I was uncomfortable being a lesbian. Now I’m in an organization where I can be open with who I am,” Lieutenant Breeden said.

Sheriff Baron hopes by making Lieutenant Breeden and Corporal

Kent available to staff members, every employee will feel embraced as a person when he or she comes to work. “No one should have to check his or her identity at the door,” Sheriff Baron said.

Corporal Kent agrees, stating that the NSO has always been supportive of his choices and he is so proud to be giving back to others who may need some assistance. “I feel like I’m part of a family here. I know that if I pick up the phone and call one of my coworkers, whether I’m gay or straight, they’ll have my back,” Corporal Kent said.

The NSO will continue Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) training and maintain objective classification for all inmates inside the city jail.

Teana ArmstrongAndrew AyersGregory BanksMorris BarcoJoseph BaronJeffrey BatakisL. BatemanMarivetta BibbinsAnna BoydDennis BoylesDennis BrownAnthony BurchetteJoshua CampbellJesse CherryStephanie CleekMatthew DehollanderFrank DenicolaJody DrownsJulia DunnJohnathan EagleMichael EnglishDaniel FryeBrian HallmanAisha HardyJonathan HollandJean JacobsJuanita JohnsonJoseph KeefeNicholas KeiselWilliam KiddJerry McCommackRichard McDanielJoy McDonaldRonald McInnisAdrienne NixonJacob NoggleWalter ProvanceRochelle RaeburnKathy RantanenReginald ThompsonGarrett TweedShannon ValenciaRacheal WhiteHarold WilsonBryan Yankosky

Staff Birthdays for March

NSO Implements First LGBT Liaison (cont.)

Don’ t forget that there’s much more available, par-

ticulary photos, slideshows and videos, on the NSO

Times website at: http://norfolk-sheriff.com/

nso-times

Sheriff Baron lends a hand with neighborhood cleanup with members of the Ocean View Civic League

Here at the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office, we strive to provide every resource pos-sible to help our inmates reenter the community with a clear path towards leading a law-abiding and productive lifestyle.

We especially feel our efforts are worth-while when a previously incarcerated individual is never again placed in our custody.

The community has much to offer our inmates in terms of familiarizing them with the skills and qualities which will help them succeed. We strongly encourage people who wish to help us help our inmates to volunteer to share their skills and insights with those who can benefit from them the most.

These are some of the areas of insight/expertise we wish to have shared with our inmates:

• Self Awareness• Self Concept/Image - Identity /Values• Goal Setting• Taking Accountability• Values and Needs• Mindfulness/Emotional Management• Identifying Behaviors of Self and

Others• Motivation vs. Determination• Boundaries• Recognizing What Needs to Change• Avoidance/Finding Strength in

Imperfections• Conflict Management• Strategic Planning and its rewards• Communication/Active Listening• Problem Solving• Creating your Reality• Personal Qualities• Rational Thinking• Be the Boss of Your Life• Emotions• Stress Management• Recognizing Behaviors• Boundaries (Revisit: Values, Needs,

and Wants)• Family Responsibilities• The Benefit of Forgiveness• Forgiveness (Who, What, When,

Where, and Why)• Relapse Prevention• Connecting to Your Best Possible

Reality• Roadmap to Success• Life Choices and Success• Personal Growth and Development• Health and Fitness

• Finances• Employment (Resume, Cover Letters,

Felony Letters)• Employment (Job Searching/

Interviewing)• Employment (Maintaining)

If you feel that you can spare some time to share any of these lifeskills with our inmates, both NSO and our inmates would be very appreciative.

Our volunteer coordinator is Lt. Benja-min Pestik, and he’d love to hear from you.

To contact him with an offer to volun-teer or make an inquiry, please fill out the form located on the NSO website at this link: http://norfolk-sheriff.com/volunteer-form

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Help Our Inmates Reenter Society Ready To Succeed

Promotions/Transfers (cont.)

TRANSFERS:

• Lt. Campbell from IAU to Human Resources

• Sgt. Mears from Operations/Courts to Corrections B Team

• Sgt. Harkins from Corrections B Team to Operations/Courts

• Cpl. Moten from Corrections B Team to Corrections C Team

• Cpl. Richardson from Corrections B Team to Operations/Courts

• Cpl. Serrano from Corrections C Team to Community Affairs

• Cpl. Williams from Security Threat Unit to Corrections D Team

• Master Deputy Wilson from Corrections C Team to Corrections B Team

• Deputy Cleek from Corrections B Team to Security Threat Unit

• Deputy Tillery from Maintenance to Community Corrections

• Deputy Johnson from Corrections B Team to Comm. Corrections / C Team

• Deputy Wilson from Corrections B Team to Community Correction D Team

Mr. Cook recently earned his G.E.D.

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Many people have been inquiring about the very popular summer camps and sports camps which the NSO held every year through retired sheriff Bob McCabe’s non-profit foundation.

We’re pleased to inform everyone that these camps will continue to be held under the new administration of Sheriff Joe Baron.

We’re still working out some of the details, which we’ll announce soon. But, we wanted to go ahead and let everyone know the dates during which the camps will be held so parents can make some preliminary scheduling plans.

Please mark these dates:

Sports Camp (basketball, baseball, football):

June 26-30, 2017Location(s) TBD.

Summer Camp:

1st Session: July 10-14, 20172nd Session: July 17-21, 20173rd Session: July 24-28, 2017

Held at Camp Apasus (the Girl Scout campground where they’ve previously been held)

Save The Dates: Sports Camps And Summer Camps

Thanks To Downtown Norfolk Council For Their “Random Act Of Kindness”What a surprise! The NSO Admin Building received a visit for “Random Acts of Kindness Week” from the Downtown Norfolk Council. They delivered a tray of Jimmy John’s subs to thank us for our service.

Pictured with Chief of Staff Lt. Col. O’Toole, Lt. Freeman, and Lt. Campbell are Ernest Allen, Lead Supervisor, Down-town Norfolk and Bobby Turner, Ambassador.

Their note said: “Enjoy lunch from the downtown Norfolk Council as a small thank you for all you do for downtown and the community.”

Thank you for making our day, Downtown Norfolk Council!

Deputies from NSO played a key role in a widely reported felon sweep conducted on March 1 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as part of a months-long investigation called “Operation Riptide.”

The sweep was the culmination of an investigation that began in Fall, 2016 and targeted people suspected of violent crimes in Norfolk, or illegally in possession of firearms.

Six NSO deputies used three vans to provide transportation for the suspects as they were arrested. The assitance was requested by the Norfolk Police Department.

In the course of the operation, investigators seized over 50 firearms, including at least two sawed-off shotguns, three military-style rifles and 47 handguns, 18 of which had obliterated serial numbers or were stolen, according to a news release.

They also seized about 10 ounces of cocaine, 6 ounces of heroin and a bulletproof vest, officials said.

During the course of the operation, investigators with ATF, Virginia State

Police and Norfolk Police Department identified more than 30 people across Hampton Roads who investigators say were illegally selling firearms, heroin or other narcotics.

12 of those wanted on Federal charges, as well as another 16 wanted on state charges were arrested on the first day of the sweep, with two other men apprehended the following day.

“Heroin overdoses and gun violence remain a concern throughout Hampton Roads, which is why my team and I are committed to working with all our state and local partners to address these and other emerging public safety threats,” Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring is quoted as saying in a news release from his office. “It’s really encouraging to see our investment, commitment, and partnership with local and federal partners produce results.”

“The impact of gun violence and illegal drug activity in Norfolk far exceeds the people named in criminal cases,” said Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Greg Underwood. “Everyone who lives, works, and spends time here is affected. I’m thankful the collaborative work of Operation Riptide holds offenders

accountable for their dangerous actions and supports citizens who deserve a safer Norfolk.”

This case was investigated by the ATF’s Norfolk Field Office, the Norfolk Police Department, and the Virginia State Police, with additional assistance from the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office.

The cases will be prosecuted in Norfolk jointly by Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring’s Major Crimes and Emerging Threats Unit and Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Gregory Underwood’s Drug Prosecution Team.

Assistant Attorney General James F. Entas will represent the Attorney General’s Office and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Catherine Paxson will represent the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office will be represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew C. Bosse, Kevin M. Comstock, Joseph E. DePadilla, Kevin Hudson, William B. Jackson, William D. Muhr, and Daniel T. Young.

NSO Deputies Play Important Role In “Operation Riptide”

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NSO deputies played an important role in “Operation Riptide”

The NSO’s Inmate Workforce has been earning goodwill from residents and city workers alike as they’ve executed projects all around Norfolk. (See slideshows below)

They recently completed a project for the Division of Towing and Recovery. Under the supervision of Deputies Brothers, Drowns and Weathersby, they performed the over a period of three weeks.

Lawrence Keefe, the city’s Towing Operations Manager, sent a note

to Cpl. Keisel, who supervises the Inmate Workforce, expressing their appreciation:

“Your deputies and crew did an excellent job! I appreciate all their hard work,” he said. “Please convey my thanks to the team.”

Another recently completed project, this one under the supervision of Deputies Brothers, Drowns, Wamsley and Weathersby involved cleanup tasks on Harrell Avenue and Cromwell Road. The Harrell Ave. project in particular improved driver safety in that community.

A huge amount of debris was removed during another project - this one at Northside Middle School. The crews raked and bagged 487 bags of debris. The dumpsters at the school were only capable of holding 200 bags. They had to return later to dispose of the remainder. This project was completed under the supervision of Deputies Corillo and Drowns.

And most recently, after receiving a

request for assistance in the removal of furniture from their office spaces from Kathryn Hall from Probation and Parole, Deputies Ashley, Batakis, and Lord supervised inmates in removing all furniture that was damaged as a result of flooding from Hurricane Matthew. They crew removed, broke down, and loaded it all onto a VADOC truck for disposal.

Thanks to the inmates and their NSO supervisors for all the hard work, performed with a “can-do” attitude.

Inmate Workforce Crews Continue Tackling Projects At Rapid Pace

Our inmate workforce crew removed 487 bags of debris from the grounds of North-side Middle School

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March Service Anniversaries

_______________________

10 Years: Deputy Cartwright Deputy Persichina Deputy Smith Deputy Willoughby 15 Years: Deputy O’Brien

Last year, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick made the decision to protest perceived injustices committed by law enforcement officers by choosing to kneel during the rendering of the National Anthem before games.

Shortly after Kaepernick began doing this, former Norfolk Police Officer and current Critical Incident Stress Management/ Peer Support Team Director and Staff Chaplain for NSO Chris Amos wrote an open letter to the NFL player and posted it on Facebook explaining why he thought Kaepernick’s negative statements about law enforcement officers and agencies were unfair, comparing how the sacrifices made by LEOs every day stack up with those associated with a career in the NFL.

He partly made his point by recounting his own life-changing encounter as a police officer, which ended with the suspect dead and Chris struggling to survive devastating gunshot wounds.

Proliferating through social media, the letter quickly went viral, capturing attention and (mostly) admiration from people all over the country.

Now NFL 360 has produced a powerful documentary film about Kaepernick’s protest. The segment about Chris’ experience alone is worth viewing.

You can watch the video on the online version of this story on the NSO Times website at:

http://norfolk-sheriff.com/ amos-nfl-360

If you’ve never read the letter Chris wrote, you should. The text as originally posted is below:_________________________________

An Open Letter to Colin Kaepernick,

Dear Colin guess you have been pretty busy these last few days. For the record

I don’t think any more or less of you for not standing for the National Anthem. Honestly, I never thought that much about you, or any professional athlete for that matter, to begin with. I’ve read your statement a few times and want you to know I am one of the reasons you are protesting. You see I am a retired police officer that had the misfortune of having to shoot and kill a 19-year-old African American male. And just like you said, I was the recipient of about $3,000 a month while on leave which was a good thing because I had to support a wife and three children under 7-years-old for about 2 months with that money. Things were pretty tight because I couldn’t work part time. Every police officer I’ve ever known has worked part-time to help make ends meet.

You know Colin the more I think about it the more we seem to have in common. I really pushed myself in rehab to get back on the street, kind of like you do to get back on the field. You probably have had a broken bone or two and some muscle strains and deep bruising that needed a lot of work. I just had to bounce back from a gunshot wound to the chest and thigh. Good thing we both get paid when we are too banged up to “play”, huh? We both also know what it’s like to get blindsided. You by a 280- pound defensive end, ouch! Me, by a couple of rounds fired from a gun about 2 feet away, into my chest and thigh. We also both make our living wearing uniforms, right? You have probably ruined a jersey or two on the field of play. I still have my blood stained shirt that my partner and paramedics literally ripped off my back that cold night in January. Fortunately, like you I was given a new one. Speaking of paramedics aren’t you glad the second we get hurt trainers and doctors are standing by waiting to rush onto the field to scoop us up. I’m thankful they get to you in seconds. It only took them about 10 minutes to get to me. By the grace of God, the artery in my thigh didn’t rupture or else 10 minutes would have been about 9 minutes too late. We also have both experienced the hate and disgust others have just because of those uniforms we

wear. I sure am glad for your sake that the folks who wear my uniform are on hand to escort you and those folks that wear your uniform into stadiums in places like Seattle!

I guess that’s where the similarities end Colin. You entertain for a living, I and almost 800,000 others across this country serve and protect. Are there some bad apples within my profession? Absolutely and they need to be identified and fired or arrested! But you know what, the vast majority do the right thing, the right way, for the right reason. Did I mention that seconds before I was shot, an elderly African American gentleman walking down the sidewalk, turned to my partner and I as we rode past and said, “Get them.” Get who you ask? The thugs terrorizing an otherwise good and decent neighborhood, home to dozens of good, decent African American families trying to raise those families in communities not protected by gates and security guards. No these folks and families depend on America’s Law Enforcement Officers.

Colin I have buried 7 friends, killed in the line of duty and three others who have committed suicide. I have attended more funerals than I care to remember of neighboring departments who have lost officers in the line of duty, during my career. Law Enforcement Officers with different backgrounds, upbringings, and experiences united by their willingness to answer the call to protect and serve their fellow citizens.

Colin I am sorry for the endorsement deals you may lose and the dip in jersey sales, but please know you will NEVER lose what these men and women and their families have lost. And so whether you stand or sit during the National Anthem means very little to me. As for me and the men and women on whose team I was privileged to serve, we will put on our ballistic vests, badge, and gun, kiss our loved one’s goodbye, for some tragically for the last time, and out into a shift of uncertainty we will go. We will continue to protect and continue to serve and we will be standing at attention Colin, not just for the playing of our National Anthem, but far more importantly for the playing of Taps.

V/R,

Chris Amos

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NFL 360 film includes powerful segment about Amos’ letter to Kaepernick

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~Obituary~

Retired Deputy Sheriff Emanuel “Top Brown” Brown Jr. Passes Away

A member of the NSO family has passed away. Retired Deputy Emanuel “Top Brown” Brown Jr. died on January 29.

Deputy Brown had a long and distinguished career, first serving with the U.S. Marine Corps for 27 years, and then with the NSO for 15 years.

The Norfolk Sheriff’s Office wish-es to express its deepest condol-ances to the family, friends and former co-workers of Deputy Brown. Fair winds and following seas, sir.

Here’s his obituary from the fu-neral home’s website:

Master Sergeant Emanuel “Top Brown” Brown Jr. USMC (Ret.)December 21, 1947 - January 29, 2017

Master Sergeant Emanuel Brown Jr. USMC (Ret.), entered eternal life on Sunday, January 29, 2017 at the age of 69. He was born December 21, 1947 in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to USN Emanuel Brown Sr. and Alliene Brown.

Daddy was a hard-working man with a high level of commitment to his family and his surrounding commu-nity. He had an extensive career in the Marine Corps serving 27 years and 15 years as a Deputy Sheriff for Norfolk, VA. After retirement, he spent most of his days with his wife and his beloved dogs.

Left to cherish his memory are his children, Antoinette Baker, Kimberly Wilson (Dwight), Emanuel Brown, III and Liaza Y.K. Brown; grandchildren,

Vaughan Brown, Shai Baker, Aus-tin Eitel and DeMarcus Wilson and great-grandson Vaughan Brown Jr.; his siblings Kenneth Brown (Viola), Leonard Brown (Barbara) and Eugene Brown. He is further survived by his aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and many close friends.

A visitation for MSgt. Emanuel Brown Jr. USMC (Ret.) will take place in Alt-meyer Funeral Home Southside Cha-pel from 11am to 1pm on Saturday, February 11, 2017 with the funeral service beginning at 1pm.

Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.altmey-erfh.com. Burial will take place in Quantico National Cemetery with full military honors at a later date.

As a reminder, the NSO Direc-tory of Divisions and Staff is located in SharePoint.

You can search a division or some staff by name. Due to frequent changes, I highly encourage you to bring to my attention any necessary up-dates.

Send todiana.minor@norfolk-sheriff.com.

This directory is for staff use.

You may scroll through page by page or you can type a divi-sion or person’s name in the box that says “find an item”. If you want to print the direc-tory, please let me know and I’ll send you the instructions.

Thanks!

Dee Minor, Secretary to the Sheriff (44713)

NSO Directory of Divisions & Staff