Sheriff Gabe Morgan and Newport News Sheriff’s Office leaders were honored to be part of the city’s tribute to Lillie B. Knight, the agency’s first Black deputy sheriff.
The Newport News Public Library held its We Stand for Justice: A Salute to African American Heroes of Newport News on Saturday, February 24.
In the video tribute to Mrs. Knight, the audience learned “she was hired as a guard for the Newport News jail in 1969, a few months before Virginia ended racial segregation in jails. She worked her way up to become chief corrections officer and was officially deputized by the sheriff’s department in 1976. She lived in the community she served – a pioneer in what today is called community policing. People knew Deputy Knight and recognized her face. Knight gained a reputation for decency and compassion and treated those she served warrants to with respect. She changed the face of the sheriff’s office. ”
Mrs. Knight retired in 1996 after nearly 3 decades of service in the department. She passed away in November 2019 at age 84.
Knight’s daughter Theresa and other family members attended the ceremony and spoke afterwards with Sheriff Morgan and Chief Deputy Col. Shonda Whitfield.
Knight’s devotion to the job and the City of Newport News exemplifies Sheriff Morgan’s motto for his agency: Committed to Making a Difference.
The library system’s annual event during Black History Month honors those whose activism has produced an enduring historical legacy and who have contributed to the cause of social justice in Newport News.
Sheriff Gabe has been elected to the board of the National Center for Policing Innovation, a non-profit organization that provides innovative learning opportunities and powerful resources that improve public safety.
Sheriff Morgan and Harrisonburg Police Chief Kelley Warner round out the eight-person board comprised of current and retired sheriffs and police chiefs from across Virginia.
“NCPI welcomes one of our newest board members, Sheriff Gabe Morgan. His willingness to serve on the NCPI Board of Directors, sharing his extensive expertise and experience, is greatly appreciated,” states NCPI Executive Director Lynda Schwartz.
25 years ago, NCPI was called Virginia Center for Policing Innovation, a state-focused training provider for public safety professionals and their communities. Today, the Richmond-based organization has a national reach, partnering with local, state, and agencies to offer public safety training, programs, and resources on topics like Community Policing, Ethical Decision-Making, CIT, and Homicide and Violence Reduction, according to its website.
Schwartz explains that board members provide guidance and support to the organization in its work to improve public safety across the country.
Sheriff Morgan was elected to the board in December 2023. His term ends on June 30, 2025.
Sheriff Gabe Morgan encourages Newport News students who are studying for a career in law enforcement or criminal justice to apply for a scholarship from the Virginia Sheriffs’ Institute (VSI).
Graduating high school seniors who will attend a Virginia college or university in the fall and current Virginia college students are eligible. There are $1,000 scholarships for full-time students and $500 scholarships for part-time students for the 2024-2025 school year.
Information on eligibility, the application checklist, and the application are available on the VSI Website.
One item Newport News students will need is a letter of recommendation from Sheriff Morgan. Call 757-926-3992 to schedule an appointment to talk with him.
All required documents, including the sheriff’s recommendation letter and the completed application, must be uploaded to the VSI online application system by May 1.
Winners will receive acceptance letters that they need to sign and return before the VSI can issue scholarship checks to their college or university.
The VSI stresses these scholarships are not for students majoring in law or pursuing a career as a lawyer.