Jim Adams for Hampton Sheriff

HAMPTON, Va. - Jim Adams, a lifelong citizen of Hampton, seeks election to the position of Sheriff in 2009, after retiring from a 30-year career with the Hampton Sheriff's Office.

On June 1, 1978, Jim Adams began his career at the Sheriff's Office at the suggestion of a friend. Like all other rookies, he started on the ground floor as a jailor in the Hampton City Jail. Two years later, he was transferred to the Civil Process section, and in 1982, was promoted to Sergeant, his first supervisory role. Adams continued to climb the ranks to Lieutenant, returning to Corrections and the jail as evening-shift supervisor over a team of 15 deputies, and then to Major, holding the positions of Jail Administrator, Court Services Commander and Training Director at this rank.

In 1982, he completed Firearms Instructor School, becoming the first certified instructor in Hampton Sheriff's Office history. Adams maintained this certification until he retired, training deputies and police officers from numerous jurisdictions. He earned certification as a Certified Jail Manager from the American Jail Association in 2003.

Adams was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and named Chief Deputy in 2006, responsible for managing the operations of the Corrections, Court Services and Support Services divisions, which included a staff of 100 plus. He retired from this position on January 1, 2009, after 30 years and seven months of service.

To round out his career, Adams finished his associate's degree in Administration of Justice in 2006 at Thomas Nelson Community College. He also earned his bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, with a Business Administration minor, from Troy University in 2009.

Adams was born and raised in Hampton, and graduated from Hampton High School in 1973. He and his wife of 28 years, Kay, live in the Fox Hill area of the city. They have two daughters-Stacy, 25, of Norfolk, and Sarah, 22, of Hampton.

Adams is a graduate of the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Leadership Institute (2006) and serves on the Chamber's Board of Regents and the Executive Committee. Adams coached his daughters in softball with the Fox Hill Athletic Association from 1996 to 2005, and played recreational softball himself. He was a member of the Hampton Volunteer Fire Company from 1979 to 1993, holding the rank of Deputy Chief, and of the Hampton Police Auxiliary from 1975 to 1977. He enjoys hunting and playing golf in his free time

Hampton Sheriff's Office
June 1978 - January 2009

Chief Deputy, Lieutenant Colonel 2006 - 2009
Managed the overall operation of the Corrections, Support Services and Court Services divisions of the Sheriff's Office.

Jail Administrator, Major 2001 - 2006, 1991 - 1994
Managed the Security, Operations, Classification and Records sections of the Corrections Division.

Training Director, Major 1998 - 2001
Ensured that personnel met training requirements as set forth by the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) and accreditation standards.

Court Services Commander, Major 1994 - 1998
Managed the Court Security, Civil Process and Transportation sections of the Court Services division.

Shift Supervisor, Lieutenant 1988 - 1991
Supervised and directed a jail security team in the Corrections division.

Civil Process Server, Deputy / Sergeant 1980 - 1988
Responsible for the service of civil court documents and for the execution of civil judgment orders pertaining to the process of eviction, re-possession and the attachment of property.

Correctional Officer, Deputy 1978 - 1980
Member of a jail security team in the Corrections division.