On December 15, 2005, The Honorable Vanessa Reese Crawford was sworn in as the first female Sheriff for the City of Petersburg. Sheriff Crawford was born and raised in the city of Petersburg. She was re-elected on November 3, 2009 and started her 2nd term as Sheriff, January 1, 2010. She ran unopposed for the office of Sheriff in 2013 and began her 3rd term January, 2014. On January 1, 2018, Sheriff Crawford began her 4th term as Sheriff in the city of Petersburg. And Sheriff Crawford will started her 5th term as Sheriff on January 1, 2022 and is currently the longest serving elected official in the city of Petersburg.

First Female to run all male facility in the Virginia Department of Corrections, Retired with over 28 years of service.
From 2014 until 2017, only African American Female Sheriff in the United States.
Only Sheriff in the Commonwealth of Virginia to attain the certification by the Department of Justice as a PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) Auditor
Unanimously elected by all Sheriffs in Virginia as President (2017-2018) of the Virginia Sheriff’s Association
Elected as President of the Virginia Correctional Association-2016-2018
Formerly a Member and Vice Chair of the Petersburg School Board-2001-2005 (Resigned because elected Sheriff in 2005)
Formerly unanimously elected as President of the Virginia Sheriff’s Institute
Honored in the General Assembly-House of Delegates in 2018 with Joint resolution, HJ 274, in her honor and for her service.
Vice-Chair of the Petersburg Task Force on Domestic Violence- 2017-present
Selected for the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Virginia Correctional Association-2016
Served 4 terms as President of the Petersburg-Dinwiddie Crime Solvers Board
Named “Law Enforcement Officer of the Year” by YOVASO (Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety) 2013
Selected as Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen Law Firm Hometown Hero
Elected to serve on the Board of FeedMore, Richmond, Va. 2013-2018
Received Medal of Merit for the National Sheriff’s Association “Sheriff of the Year” Award-2014, 2015, 2017
Appointed by the Governor of Virginia, The Honorable Terry McAuliffe, to serve on the Criminal Justice Services Board-July, 2014; Reappointed in July, 2017
Featured in “O” Oprah Magazine as one of “12 Most Politically Unusual” in this country in 2012
Awarded the Sojourner Truth Award from the Petersburg Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc., May, 2018
Appointed to Governor of Virginia’s, Ralph Northam’s Transition Team, 2018
Achieved certification through the VSI Certification Program thus VSI Certified (VSIC). March, 2018
Profiled by FOX TV, WRLH, in honor of Black Women’s History Month-April 2018
Awarded the MAGNUS Leadership Award from the National Command & Staff College and the Criminal Justice Commission for Credible Leadership Development June, 2017
Is a certified auditor for the American Correctional Association
Appointed as the Vice Chair on the Board of Governors on the Small and Rural Law Enforcement Executives Association (SRLEEA)-A National Law Enforcement Agency
Appointed to serve on the National Board of “Fight Crime: Invest in Kids” 
Unanimously Elected by the The National Sheriff’s Association as “Sheriff of the Year” for 2022 in the country
Appointed as the Chair of the Board of Governors of the National Small and Rural Law Enforcement Executives Association in December, 2022
Nominated and selected as Allen and Allen 2023 Hometown Heroes Award