Vanessa Reese Crawford

Vanessa Reese Crawford was sworn in as the first female Sheriff for the City of Petersburg on December 15, 2005, and is the longest-serving elected official in the city. She was born and raised in Petersburg. Before becoming Sheriff, she worked for over 28 years in the Virginia Department of Corrections, where she was the first woman to run an all-male correctional facility. Crawford has held leadership positions in various organizations, including President of the Virginia Sheriff's Association and the Virginia Correctional Association. She previously served as Vice Chair of the Petersburg School Board from 2001 to 2005. In 2022, she made history as the first African American female to be recognized as National Sheriff of the Year.