[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 164 (Monday, October 6, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E937]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING LIEUTENANT COLONEL JABAR SHABAZZ ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE 
                    FAIRFAX COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. JAMES R. WALKINSHAW

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 6, 2025

  Mr. WALKINSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lt. Colonel Jabar 
Shabazz, who is retiring after 31 years of faithful service to our 
Nation, culminating in his service as lieutenant colonel, the highest 
rank in the Sheriff's Office, immediately below Sheriff.
  Lt. Col. Shabazz has always been a competitive and driven person, as 
was apparent in his days as a college basketball player. He attended 
Virginia State University on a four-year athletic scholarship and 
played small forward. In his senior year, his team won the Central 
Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship. While his goal was 
to join the NBA, Shabazz ended up meeting several folks who worked for 
the Richmond Sheriff's Office when he was playing in a summer league 
after college.
  He began his career in public service in 1989 when he joined the 
Richmond Sheriff's Office. After five years of distinguished service in 
Richmond, Lt. Col. Shabazz decided to join the Fairfax County Sheriff's 
Office in March of 1994 after taking a tour of the Adult Detention 
Center (ADC) and liking what he saw.
  Since his graduation from the Fairfax County Criminal Justice 
Academy, he has spent the majority of his career in the ADC but has 
served with distinction in all areas of the agency, including court 
security and internal affairs. Throughout his time in each division and 
rank, Lt. Col. Shabazz made his mark on his colleagues and the Fairfax 
County Sheriff Stacey Kincaid. Sheriff Kincaid ended up offering 
Shabazz the position to serve as her Chief Deputy in 2022, despite his 
nearing retirement. Knowing he had more service to give, he accepted 
and obtained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
  When taking over the position of Chief Deputy of Operations, Shabazz 
was confident in his skills in operations and was looking forward to 
being responsible for both the ADC and all of their support services. 
Sheriff Kincaid described him as being ``the gold standard of 
leadership in [the] agency,'' and that he ``brings with him a mentality 
of getting to yes and finding a way over, around, or through any 
obstacle to get the job done.'' His appointment to this position was 
also historic, as he became the first African American Lieutenant 
Colonel and Chief Deputy.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Lt. 
Colonel Jabar Shabazz on his retirement. On behalf of myself and the 
citizens of Fairfax County, I thank him and his family for his 
honorable 31 years of selfless service to our Nation. Fairfax County is 
the safest jurisdiction of its size, and that is in no small part due 
to the dedication of individuals like Lt. Col. Shabazz. Best wishes for 
a safe and happy retirement.

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