A Profile in Leadership
Sheriff Octavia L. Johnson is responsible for the orderly operation and management of the Roanoke City Jail; for providing courthouse and courtroom security for local District and Circuit Courts; and for the service of all civil process in the City of Roanoke. Sheriff Johnson manages a staff of approximately 250 deputies and civilians and administers a budget of 16 million dollars.
Since taking office, Sheriff Johnson has created a new unit, Professional Standards, to ensure that the Roanoke City Sheriff’s Office operates at the highest level of service and care. She has updated technology in the Sheriff’s Office:
- Installed additional security cameras in the Intake area.
- Updated radios
- Computerized the visitation system
- Equipped Civil Process deputies with cell phones
- Replaced old metal detectors in the jail and courthouse with state of the art metal detectors
- Contracted with Language Line to provide interpretation services 24 hours a day seven days a week
Sheriff Johnson has challenged tradition and confronted gender bias in the workplace. Since Sheriff Johnson took office we’ve seen the
- First woman qualify and be appointed to the Tactical Team.
- First man to work as a clerk in Records.
- First woman assigned full time to Civil Process.
- First woman Defensive Tactics Instructor
- First woman Firearms Instructor
Other changes are also evident at the Sheriff’s Office.
- A more conspicuous inmate uniform
- Renovated Intake Office and Administration offices.
In an effort to increase regional security, Sheriff Johnson has expanded the training of Roanoke Sheriff’s Tactical Team to include training with local law enforcement and public safety agencies as well as law enforcement offices from other jurisdictions. The Roanoke Sheriff’s Tactical Team has responded to three regional security breaches: the VA Tech tragedy, Giles County manhunt and Ferrum College.
