Sheriff Scores Again with 6th Annual Sports Camp
by Bonita Harris

Play hard in sports, but work hard in school first. That was the main message at Sheriff McCabe’s 6th Annual Norfolk Youth Sports Camp. The week jump started on June 28th with record hot days, but it was all about ICE – Integrity, Commitment and Excellence.

This year’s addition of a basketball camp was a slam dunk. For the first two days at Lake Taylor High School, renowned basketball coach “Zeke” Avery and his team of volunteer coaches taught the young athletes some of the same moves they taught pros like Bruce Smith (back in the day) - a stand-out basketball player, before going on to play in the NFL and getting inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame.

Coach Avery said he was honored to head up the inaugural basketball camp. “I feel really good about it because the kids are learning a variety of skills and they feel good about it.”

The kids, from 10 to 14 years old, also heard words of wisdom from former NBA stand-out Bobby Dandridge, who earned championships with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Washington Bullets. Known as one of the best forwards to ever play in the NBA, Dandridge played with other basketball greats like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Magic Johnson and Larry Byrd.

Other local legends included Johnny “Pep” Morris who set the national record for highest points scored in a high school basketball game in 1961, when he scored 127 points for Portsmouth’s Norcom High School. Old Dominion University Associate Head Basketball Coach Jim Corrigan also took time to encourage and enlighten the kids.

On June 30th and July 1st, the sports camp moved to its traditional football skills and drills, led by Maury High School Coach John Quinerly, at Powhatan Field, behind ODU. Fortunately for everyone, the temperature dropped to pleasant 80 degree weather both days. But there was no slacking off of the tough lessons on and off the field. More of Norfolk’s best coaches and athletes stepped up to volunteer for the football camp, including college players from Norfolk State and Old Dominion; local stand-outs like Bobby Rome, drafted free agent with the Green Bay Packers, as well as William Fuller and Tommy Graves – local businessmen who played in the NFL. Andrew Heidelberg, one of the prominent “Norfolk 17” who integrated Norfolk Public Schools and varsity sports with superior athletic skills also showcased his moves and provided inspiring remarks.

11-year-old Shamar Eaton said, “It’s hard work! It keeps our muscles strong, helps us learn not to give up and to get our education first.”

“It’s been fun to play football with college players and learn from the pros,” added 14-year-old Kendrick Reynolds. “To play college football and get into the NFL, you gotta do your work, keep up your grades and do well on the SAT’s.”

13-year-old Brooke Baez was one of the few girls who proved she could hang with the fellas for all four days. “It’s given me more conditioning for soccer and cheerleading,” she said, “and I get to learn new skills and make new friends.”

Congrats to Sheriff and all the volunteers for another successful camp!

Another Perfect Score for the Norfolk Jail
by Paula Miller

It doesn’t get better than a perfect performance score from the Virginia Department of Corrections, but Norfolk Jail Command Staff knows it takes a day-to-day commitment to stay that way.  The Department of Corrections completed its three year inspection of the Norfolk Jail last week and issued a perfect report card - 100 percent compli-
ance!  It’s an impressive fete since the jail is judged on 122  standards.   All divisions are held accountable.

Inspectors are looking at everything from records and classification to food and medical services, safety and cleanliness. Capt. Janetta Grizzard and Sgt. John Woodward who oversaw the inspection, commented that attaining the perfect score was “nothing short of a complete team effort.”  Grizzard insisted, “we could not have accomplished this without the cooperation and assistance of everyone who works in the jail and works to ensure that the inspection points are part of our daily performance.”

Every three years, the Norfolk Jail receives a thorough review, like this most recent one. Each year, however,  the Department of Corrections also makes an unannounced, one day visit to the jail (and all Virginia jails) to make sure lockups continue to meet their performance standards.  The annual one day visit by the D-O-C
inspection team reviews less than a quarter of the standards inspected in the three year site review.

“Professionally, this is a  great accomplishment;  this is what we work toward day in, day out, remarked Sheriff Bob McCabe.

“Personally, it’s also very satisfying,” added the sheriff who noted “this is the same office just recognized by Inside Business Journal as one of the  Best Places to Work in Hampton Roads.” The sheriff  hopes everyone recognizes a jail is not just a holding facility for some of society’s worst criminals.   “The Virginia Department of Corrections scorecard and our Inside Business award are proof positive that we are a well-run,  professional organization  that can be proud of its work site and work product while aiming to encourage professional growth and job satisfaction for all its
employees,” said McCabe.

 

Sheriff Foundation Gives Boost to Norfolk Grads
by Bonita Harris

Erinn Moore, one of Lake Taylor High School’s proud new graduates and top track athletes, finished with a GPA over 4.0 and is headed to Virginia Commonwealth
University to major in forensic science.  That’s a long way from her roots as one of four children, raised by a single mom in the Oakleaf Forest public housing community.

Sheriff McCabe is proud to help make it possible for her and a student from each of Norfolk’s other public high schools, through the new Orville Brown Memorial Scholarship.  The partnership between McCabe’s Norfolk Sheriff Foundation and GVI Inc., a Norfolk-based engineering logistics firm donated  $1,000 scholarships to one student recommended by each of the five Norfolk public high schools.

“It feels amazing to not have to worry about money,” said Erinn Moore.  “This will really help me focus on my studies.”

Leonard Roberson is proud to be the first member of his family to attend college.  Not only did he graduate from Norview High School with honors, he took several AP classes, earning a perfect score on his

Calculus AP exam.  Roberson chose to attend Virginia Tech in the fall and plans to study Mechanical Engineering.

Each of the Norfolk Sheriff Foundation’s first scholarship recipients had their own compelling stories.  Sheriff McCabe praised them all for distinguishing themselves among their peers.

“We have the largest jail in Virginia.  65% of the inmates were born and raised in Norfolk, within a 5 mile radius.” McCabe pointed out “That means they went to many of the same schools and faced many of the same choices that you did.  But you didn’t let negative influences affect your goal.”

Joyce Grimes Beamon, Senior Coordinator of Norfolk Public Schools was the key liaison to identifying deservingstudents from each high school.  “That $1,000 makes a world of difference to help these students make their dreams possible.”

The Sheriff thanked GVI partner Beverly Brown and Foundation Board Member Matt Hales wife, Lisa, for attending the awards presentation.  He also recognized Norfolk Sheriff Foundation board members and members of the NSO Family for their support.