Trailblazers for Justice, an initiative by the Lucius D. Amerson, Bridge Builder Foundation, is an interactive digital archive honoring African-American sheriffs throughout history. Through a rich tapestry of photographs, stories, and records, this interactive map celebrates Black sheriffs’ contributions and resilience in law enforcement. By preserving these narratives, the Foundation shines a light on their enduring legacy, inspiring future generations in the pursuit of justice and equity.
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Walter Moses Burton
Fort Bend County, Texas
1869-1873
First Black Sheriff Elected In the Nation and the State of Texas
William McCary
Adams County, Mississippi
1872-1875
First Black Elected Sheriff
James W. Mason
Jefferson County, Arkansas
1872-1876
First Black Elected Sheriff in State of Arkansas
Peter Crosby
Warren County, Mississippi
1873-1877
First Black Elected Sheriff
Edward Massey
Charleston County, South Carolina
1873-1877
First Black Sheriff
Blanche Kelso Bruce
Bolivar County, Mississippi
1875-1881
First Black Elected Sheriff in the State of Mississippi
Robert H. Wood
Adams County, Mississippi
1875-1876
Sheriff
James Roberts
Monroe County, Florida
1875-1879
First Black Elected Sheriff in State of Florida
James B. Simpson
Autauga County, Alabama
1877- 1878
First Black Elected Sheriff in State of Alabama
Stephen Bates
Addison County, Vermont
1879-1907
First Black Sheriff Elected in the State of Vermont
Lucius D. Amerson
Macon County, Alabama
1966-1986
First Black Elected Sheriff In the South
Post Reconstruction
James Bradby
Post Reconstruction, Virginia
1968-1968
First Black Sheriff in the State of Virginia
William “Bill” Lucas
Wayne County, Michigan
1969-1983
First Black Sheriff Elected in the State of Michigan
John Lyght
Cook County, Minnesota
1972-1994
First Black Elected Sheriff In the State of Minnesota
Harmon White
Charles City County, Virginia
1975-1984
Sheriff
Frank Davis
Claiborne County, Mississippi
1976-2004
First Black Sheriff Elected In the State of Mississippi
Post Reconstruction
Benjamin L. Goins Sr.
Saint Louis County, Missouri
1977-1981
First Black Sheriff Elected In the State of Missouri
Post Reconstruction
Delphus Hicks Jr
Hardeman County, Tennessee
1978-1994
First Black Sheriff Elected In the State of Tennessee
Post Reconstruction
John H. Baker Jr
Wake County, North Carolina
1978-2002
First Black Elected Sheriff In the State of North Carolina
Post Reconstruction
William O. Dillard Sr.
Christian County, Kentucky
1981-1989
First Black Sheriff Elected in the State of Kentucky
Post Reconstruction
James Bowman
Charles City County, Virginia
1984-1996
Sheriff
Charlie Byrd
Siskyiou County, California
1986-2002
First Black Elected Sheriff In the State of California
Post Reconstruction
Richard Lankford
Fulton County, Georgia
1986-1992
First Black Elected Sheriff In the State of Georgia
Post Reconstruction
Roger E. Walker Jr.
Macon County, Illinois
1990-2006
First Black Sheriff Elected In the State of Illinois
Post Reconstruction
Oatess Archey
Grant County, Indiana
1990-2007
First Black Sheriff Elected In the State of Indiana
Post Reconstruction
Nathaniel Glover Jr.
Duval County, Florida
1990-2003
First Black Sheriff Elected In the State of Florida
Post Reconstruction
Frank G. Cousins Jr.
Essex County, Massachusetts
1990-2010
First Black Sheriff Elected In the State of Massachusetts
Post Reconstruction
Jacquelyn Barrett-Washington
Fulton County, Georgia
1992-2004
First Black Woman Elected Sheriff In the Nation
Post Reconstruction
James Bailey, Sr.
Jefferson County, Mississippi
1993-Present
Sheriff
Beverly A Washington, Sr.
Charles City County, Virginia
1996-2008
Sheriff
James Johnson
Orangeburg County, South Carolina
1997-2000
First Black Sheriff Elected
Post Reconstruction
Larry Jones
Stewart County, Georgia
1997-Present
Sheriff
Alonzo D. Black II
Prince George’s County, Maryland
1998-2002
First Black Elected
Sheriff
Willie March
Holmes County, Mississippi
1999-Present
Sheriff
Tomlyn T. Primus
Hancock County, Georgia
2001-Present
Sheriff
Larry Williams
Orangeburg County, South Carolina
2001-2010
Sheriff
David Clarke
Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
2002-2017
Sheriff
Michael A. Jackson
Prince George’s County, Maryland
2002-2010
Sheriff
James Haywood
Sunflower County, Mississippi
2003-Present
Sheriff
Raymond “Buck” Rodgers
Bullock County, Alabama
2003-Present
Sheriff
Lindsey Adams
Sharkey County, Mississippi
2004-2023
Sheriff
Milton Gaston Sr.
Washington County, Mississippi
2004-Present
First African American Elected Sheriff Post Reconstruction
K.C. Hamp
Tunica County, Mississippi
2004-Present
Sheriff
Morris Young
Gadsden County, Florida
2004-Present
Second African American
Elected Sheriff in the
State of Florida
Glendell Hill
Prince William County, Virginia
2004-Present
Sheriff
Jack Martin
Morris County, Texas
2005- Present
Sheriff
Randy Courson
Echols County, Georgia
2005-Present
Sheriff
Arthur Townsend, Jr.
Lunenburg County, Virginia
2006-Present
Sheriff
Vanessa R. Crawford
Petersburg County, Virginia
2006-Present
Sheriff
Gabe A. Morgan
Newport News County, Virginia
2006-Present
Sheriff
Nathaniel Williams
St. Helena Parish, Louisiana
2007-Present
Sheriff
Reginald Jackson
Wilkinson County, Mississippi
2007-Present
Sheriff
T.C. Smalls
Hampton County, South Carolina
2007-2022
Sheriff
Jerry Clayton
Washtenaw County, Michigan
2008-Present
Sheriff
James Moore
Kemper County, Mississippi
2008-Present
Sheriff
Eric Jackson
Fulton County, Georgia
2008-2020
Sheriff
Ezell Brown
Newton County, Georgia
2008-2024
First African-American Elected Sheriff Post Reconstruction
Lewis Walker
Crawford County, Georgia
2008-Present
Sheriff
Javier J Smith
Charles City County, Virginia
2008-2016
Sheriff
Charles Jones
Coahoma County, Mississippi
2009-2023
Sheriff
Jerry L. Demings
Orange County, Florida
2009-2018
Sheriff
Timothy Brown
Alexander County, Illinois
2010-Present
Sheriff
Daniel Simon
Bishopville County, South Carolina
2010-Present
Sheriff
James Dixon
Chesterfield County, South Carolina
2010-Present
Sheriff
Calvin L. Woodard, Jr.
Wilson County, North Carolina
2010-Present
Sheriff
James E. Brown, III
Charlottesville County, Virginia
2010-Present
Sheriff
Melvin C. High
Prince George’s County, Maryland
2010-2022
Sheriff
Jonathan “Joe” Benison
Greene County, Alabama
2011-Present
Sheriff
Richard “Ben” Bates
Marengo County, Alabama
2011-2023
Sheriff
Earnest Evans
Wilcox County, Alabama
2011-2022
Sheriff
Leroy Ravenell
Orangeburg County, South Carolina
2011-Present
Sheriff
Anthony Dennis
Sumter County, South Carolina
2011-Present
Sheriff
Wydette Williams
East Carroll Parish, Louisiana
2012-Present
Sheriff
Kelvin Williams
Bolivar County, Mississippi
2012-Present
Sheriff
Oliver Parker Jr.
Quitman County, Mississippi
2012-Present
Sheriff
Richard Roundtree
Richmond County, Georgia
2012-2024
Sheriff
William Price
Early County, Georgia
2012-Present
Sheriff
Neal Byrd
Phillips County, Missouri
2013-Present
Sheriff
Eric Levett
Rockdale County, Georgia
2013-Present
Sheriff
Eddie Fairbanks
Randolph County, Georgia
2013-Present
Sheriff
Derrell Neal
Marion County, Georgia
2013-Present
Sheriff
Jack E. Smith
Northampton County, North Carolina
2013-Present
Sheriff
Steven W. Tompkins
Suffolk County, Massachusetts
2013-Present
Sheriff
John Bowens
Terrell County, Georgia
2014-2024
Sheriff
Troy Berry
Charles County, Maryland
2014-Present
First African American
Sheriff
Post Reconstruction
Travis L. Patten
Adams County, Mississippi
2015-Present
First African American Elected Sheriff
Post Reconstruction
Billy Jones
Perry County, Alabama
2015-Present
Sheriff
Derrick Cunningham
Montgomery County, Alabama
2015-Present
First African American Elected Sheriff
Post Reconstruction
Andre Brunson
Macon County, Alabama
2015-Present
Sheriff
Johnny M. Williams
Warren County, North Carolina
2015-Present
Sheriff
Gilbert “Whip” Wilson
Camden County, New Jersey
2015-2024
Sheriff
Reggie Nevels, Sr.
Grant County, Indiana
2016-2022
Sheriff
Brian Harris
Sumter County, Alabama
2016-Present
Sheriff
Dexter A. Hayes
Hertford County, North Carolina
2016-Present
Sheriff
Alan M. Jones, Sr.
Charles City County, Virginia
2016-2023
Sheriff
Carlos Turner
Surry County, Virginia
2016-Present
Sheriff
Zena Stephens
Jefferson County, Texas
2017-Present
First African American Woman Elected Sheriff In The State of Texas
Tim Pounds
Douglas County, Georgia
2017-Present
Sheriff
Walt McNeil
Leon County, Florida
2017-Present
Cleveland Atkinson, Jr
Edgecombe County, North Carolina
2017-Present
Sheriff
Ennis W. Wright
Cumberland County, North Carolina
2017-Present
Sheriff
Ernest L. Giles Sr.
Sussex County, Virginia
2017-Present
Sheriff
John Idleburg
Lake County, Illinois
2018-Present
Sheriff
Marian Brown
Dallas County, Texas
2018-Present
Sheriff
Mark L. Pettway
Jefferson County, Alabama
2018-Present
First African American Elected Sheriff
Post Reconstruction
Leonard Johnson
Macon County, Georgia
2018-2024
Sheriff
(Deceased)
Paula Dance
Pitt County, North Carolina
2018-Present
First African American
Woman Elected Sheriff
In the
State of
North Carolina
Curtis R. Brame
Vance County, North Carolina
2018-Present
Sheriff
Clarence Birkhead
Durham County, North Carolina
2018-Present
Sheriff
Tony Durden
Caswell County, North Carolina
2018-Present
He First African American
Sheriff
Post Reconstruction
Danny H. Rogers
Guilford County, North Carolina
2018-Present
The First African
American Elected
Sheriff
Post Reconstruction
Bobby F. Kimbrough, Jr.
Forsyth County, North Carolina
2018-Present
The First African American
Sheriff
Post Reconstruction
Garry L. McFadden
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
2018-Present
Sheriff
Quentin Miller
Buncombe County, North Carolina
2018-Present
The First African
American Elected Sheriff
Post Reconstruction
Antionette Irving
Richmond County, Virginia
2018-Present
Sheriff
W. A. “Arnie” Holmes
Essex County, Virginia
2018-Present
Sheriff
James R. Clarke Jr.
Isle of Wight County, Virginia
2018-Present
Sheriff
Marcus Harris
Howard County, Maryland
2018-Present
First African American
Sheriff
Post Reconstruction
Jerry L. Sanders Jr.
Delaware County, Pennsylvania
2018-Present
First African-American
Sheriff
Anthony Cureton
Bergen County, New Jersey
2018-Present
First African-American
Sheriff
Post Reconstruction
Terrance Raynor
Westchester County, New York
2018-Present
Sheriff
Errol Toulon
Suffolk County, New York
2018-Present
Sheriff
Earnell Lucas
Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
2019-2022
Sheriff
Eric Higgins
Pulaski County, Missouri
2019-Present
Sheriff
Lafayette Woods, Jr
Jefferson County, Missouri
2019-Present
Sheriff
Edward Goods
Claiborne County, Mississippi
2019-Present
Sheriff
Byron Swilley
Copiah County, Mississippi
2019-Present
Sheriff
Ron Strickland
Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi
2019-Present
Sheriff
Tyrone Smith
Barbour County, Alabama
2019-Present
Sheriff
Melody Maddox
Dekalb County, Georgia
2019-Present
First African American Woman Elected Sheriff
Post Reconstruction
Greg Toney
Broward County, Florida
2019-Present
First African-American
Elected Sheriff
Post Reconstruction
Fredda L. Maddox
Chester County, Pennsylvania
2019-2023
First African American
Woman Elected Sheriff
Aaron Appelhans
Albany County, Wyoming
2020-Present
First African American
Sheriff In The State of Wyoming
Post Reconstruction
Elias Diggins
Denver County, Colorado
2020-Present
Sheriff
Eric Fagan
Fort Bend County, Texas
2020-Present
First African American Sheriff
Post Reconstruction
Byron Lyons
Polk County, Texas
2020-Present
Sheriff
Robert Burby
Newton County, Texas
2020-Present
First African-American
Sheriff
Rolando Fair
Grenada County, Mississippi
2020-2023
Sheriff
Tommy Roby
Noxubee County, Mississippi
2020-Present
Sheriff
Christopher West
Lowndes County, Alabama
2020-Present
Sheriff
Reginald Scandrett
Henry County, Georgia
2020-Present
First African-American Elected Sheriff
Eric Bryant
Sumter County, Georgia
2020-Present
First African American Elected Sheriff
Charles Davis
Quitman County, Georgia
2020-Present
Sheriff
Greg Countryman
Muscogee County, Georgia
2020-Present
Sheriff
Donald Hipp
Ridgeland County, South Carolina
2020-Present
Sheriff
Royal S. Freeman
Charlotte County, Virginia
2020-2023
Sheriff
Robert L. Jones Sr.
Nottoway County, Virginia
2020-Present
Sheriff
Alisa A. Gregory
Henrico County, Virginia
2020-Present
First African American
Woman Elected
Sheriff
Karen E. Bowden
Hampton County, Virginia
2020-Present
First African American
Woman Elected
Sheriff
Josh A. Wyche Sr.
Southampton County, Virginia
2020-Present
Sheriff
Rochelle Bilal
Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
2020-Present
First African American
Woman Elected
Sheriff
Mark Brave
Stafford County, New Hampshire
2020-2023
Sheriff
Jim Cooper
Sacramento County, California
2021-Present
First African American Elected Sheriff
Raphael Washington
Wayne County, Michigan
2021-Present
Sheriff
Kalvin Barrett
Dane County, Wisconsin
2021-Present
First African American
Sheriff
Susan Hutson
Orleans Parish, Louisiana
2021-2025
First African American Woman of Color elected sheriff
Tyree D. Jones
Hinds County, Mississippi
2021-Present
Sheriff
Jacob Sheriff
Yazoo County, Mississippi
2021-Present
Sheriff
Jermaine Gooch
Yalobusha County, Mississippi
2021-Present
Sheriff
Craig D. Owens Sr.
Cobb County, Georgia
2021-Present
First African American Elected Sheriff
Post Reconstruction
Patrick “Pat” Labat
Fulton County, Georgia
2021-Present
Sheriff
Keybo Taylor
Gwinnett County, Georgia
2021-Present
Sheriff
John Williams
Clarke County, Georgia
2021-Present
Sheriff
Tia McWilliams
Taliaferro County, Georgia
2021-Present
First African American Woman Elected Sheriff
Post Reconstruction
Justin Johnson
Talbot County, Georgia
2021-Present
Sheriff
Will Bowman
Liberty County, Georgia
2021-Present
Sheriff
Tom Carter, Jr.
Allendale County, South Carolina
2021-Present
Sheriff
Kenneth J. Bamberg
Bamberg County, South Carolina
2021-Present
Sheriff
James Hudson
Darlington County, South Carolina
2021-Present
First African American
Sheriff
Post Reconstruction
Douglas B. Pernell
Dillon County, South Carolina
2021-2023
Sheriff
(Deceased)
Roderick Virgil
Hoke County, North Carolina
2021-Present
Sheriff
Jonathan M. Sammons
Gloucester County, New Jersey
2021-Present
First African-American
Sheriff
Post Reconstruction
Mildred Scott
Middlesex County, New Jersey
2021-Present
First African-American
Woman Elected Sheriff
In The
State of New Jersey
Patricia Cole-Tindall
King County, Washington
2022-Present
Sheriff
Dawanna Witt
Hennepin County, Minnesota
2022-Present
First African American
Woman Elected Sheriff
Denita Ball
Milwaukee County, Minnesota
2022-Present
First African American Woman Elected Sheriff
in The State of Wisconsin
Post Reconstruction
Bryan Avery
Lake County, Tennessee
2022-Present
Sheriff
Floyd Bonner
Shelby County, Tennessee
2022-Present
Sheriff
Levon Allen
Clayton County, Georgia
2022-Present
Sheriff
Tyrone Ruffin
Bertie County, North Carolina
2022-Present
Sheriff
Tyree Davis
Halifax County, North Carolina
2022-Present
The First African American
Sheriff
Post Reconstruction
Robert David Fountain Jr.
Granville County, North Carolina
2022-Present
The First African American
Sheriff
Post Reconstruction
Willie Rowe
Wake County, North Carolina
2022-Present
Sheriff
Bryan Avery
Lake County, Tennessee
2022-Present
Sheriff
Floyd Bonner
Shelby County, Tennessee
2022-Present
Sheriff
R. Tyrone Foster
Bristol County, Virginia
2022-Present
Sheriff
Antonio D. Hash
Roanoke County, Virginia
2022-Present
Sheriff
Christopher Johnson Jr.
Waynesboro County, Virginia
2022-Present
Sheriff
William Sales
Winchester County, Virginia
2022-Present
Sheriff
John D. B. Carr
Prince George’s County, Maryland
2022-Present
Sheriff
Everett L. Sesker
Anne Arundel County, Maryland
2022-Present
First African American
Sheriff
Post Reconstruction
Eddie Engram
Sonoma County, California
2023-Present
Sheriff
Ruben Marte
Monroe County, Indiana
2023-Present
Sheriff
Corey Wilson
Lee County, Missouri
2023-Present
Sheriff
Leroy Martin
Columbia County, Missouri
2023-Present
Sheriff
Henry Whitehorn
Caddo Parish, Louisiana
2023-Present
First African American Sheriff
Post Reconstruction
Gary “Stitch” Guillory
Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana
2023-Present
First African American
Sheriff
Claude J. Lewis Jr.
St. James Parish, Louisiana
2023-Present
Sheriff
Michael Hamilton
Hale County, Alabama
2023-Present
Sheriff
Robert Alston Jr.
Marengo County, Alabama
2023-Present
Sheriff
Larry Colston
Wilcox County, Alabama
2023- Present
Sheriff
Alfonzo Williams
Burke County, Georgia
2023-Present
Sheriff
Emery Gainey
Alachua County, Florida
2023-Present
Sheriff
T.K. Waters
Duval County, Florida
2023-Present
Sheriff
Kevin D. Dykes
Chester County, Pennsylvania
2023-Present
Sheriff
Donnell “Tank” Tanksley
Whatcom County, Washington
2024-Present
Sheriff
Amir Jones
Essex County, New Jersey
2024-Present
First African-American
Sheriff
Robert “Buck” Shannon
Peach County, Georgia
2025-Present
Sheriff
Carlos Felton
Macon County, Georgia
2025-Present
Sheriff
Thornell “T.K.” King
McIntosh County, Georgia
2025-Present
Sheriff
Richard Coleman
Chatham County, Georgia
2025-Present
Sheriff
Sam Richardson
Dorchester County, South Carolina
2025-Present
Michelle Woodfork
Orleans Parish, Louisiana
2026-2030
Orlean Parish for Sheriff Elect
Rashawn Cowles
Fredericksburg, Virginia
2026-2030
First Black Sheriff Elected for City of Fredericksburg
Jacqueline Salvatore
Columbia County, New York
2026-2030
First African American Woman Elected Sheriff in the State of New York