Chesapeake Sheriff announces retirement

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) - Sheriff John R. Newhart has announced he will retire as Sheriff of Chesapeake, effective Sept. 30.

“After more than half a century of public service, I intend to retire effective Sept. 30, 2012 as the Sheriff of Chesapeake,” Newhart said in a letter addressed to the Citizens of Chesapeake.

He said his goal has always been to travel when he retired.

Newhart was raised in the South Norfolk Section of Chesapeake and began his career in law enforcement in 1958. In 1969, he was elected Sheriff of Chesapeake, becoming the youngest person ever elected to that office in the history of Virginia at that time.

“It is also very important to me to sincerely thank the many employees of the Sheriff’s Office, past and present, for their loyal service to me and the citizens of Chesapeake,” he said in his letter.

Newhart went on to say Jim O’Sullivan would take over as Sheriff upon his retirement.

“If there is one thing that gives me solace as I leave office later this year, it is that I will be turning my life’s work over to a man whom I respect and is the most capable person to carry this office into the future.”

Currently and until his retirement, Newhart serves as the senior Sheriff in Virginia and the third senior Sheriff in the United States.