Jim Adams, a lifelong citizen of Hampton, seeks election to the position of Sheriff in 2013, 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 31 years, Kay, live in the Fox Hill area of the city.  They have two daughters—Stacy, 29, from Madison County, and Sarah, 25, from Smithfield. 

Adams is a graduate of the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Leadership Institute (2006) and formerly served 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.