Command & Organization

Sheriff Rocky Holcomb was sworn in on Sept. 29, 2023, to fulfill the unexpired term of Sheriff Ken Stolle, who retired after 13 years of service, until a special election is held. He is the city's seventh sheriff and the first to rise through the ranks. He has served the Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office (VBSO) for 32 years, having started as a deputy sheriff recruit in 1991. He previously served the Virginia House of Delegates and Virginia Beach City Council.

Undersheriff Struzzieri has served the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office since 1999 and was the first undersheriff in Virginia Beach to be promoted through the ranks.

Undersheriff Struzzieri is from Norfolk and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School. He served two years in the Navy as a boatswain’s mate and two years as a jail officer with the Hampton Roads Regional Jail. After joining the Sheriff’s Office, he earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Saint Leo University and his master’s degree in criminal justice from Troy University. He is a graduate of the West Point Leadership Course and FBI National Academy and has completed the Virginia Law Reader Program.

His accomplishments at the Sheriff’s Office include establishing the Criminal Intelligence Unit when he was a lieutenant. That unit is responsible for improving safety inside the Correctional Center and working with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to solve and prevent crimes, including investigating the first Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) case prosecuted in Virginia Beach. He oversaw the implementation of the Security Housing Unit, the Reentry Program, and efforts to improve mental health treatment and prevent suicides in the jail. During his time as Chief Deputy of Operations, the Sheriff’s Office received 100% scores on all independent audits and inspections, including by the Virginia Department of Corrections and the U.S. Department of Justice.

Chief Deputy Mapes has served the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office since 1994 and, prior to her promotion to chief deputy in July 2023, served as captain of Correctional Administration, overseeing Medical, the Power Shift, Information Technology and Maintenance. She is the second woman to serve as VBSO chief deputy after rising through the ranks.

She is the chief deputy of administration, overseeing Courts, Training, Human Resources and Finance.

Chief Deputy Mapes is a Navy brat who was born in Beeville, Texas, and graduated from Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach. She started out as an auxiliary deputy, and has served in nearly every division of the Sheriff’s Office, including Corrections, Intake, the Professional Standards Office, Courts, Workforce, Legal Affairs, the Criminal Intelligence Unit, the Emergency Response Team and Training, where she taught firearms, defensive tactics and more. She concurrently earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Saint Leo University and master’s degrees in public administration and public policy from Troy University and Liberty University, respectively. She is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the University of Virginia’s National Criminal Justice Command College and the Virginia Beach Police Department’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) School.

She is active in national, state and local politics, consulting on state legislation related to law enforcement and local correctional facilities, assisting with constituent services and serving on the Secure and Resilient Commonwealth Panel under Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

Chief Deputy Culanding has served the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office since 1997 and, prior to his promotion to chief deputy in October 2023, served as captain of the Courts Division, overseeing Court Security, Civil Process, Transportation, Emergency Management, the Crisis Negotiation Team and Fleet Management. He is the first Filipino to serve as chief deputy in Virginia Beach.

He is the chief deputy of operations, overseeing Correctional Operations, Correctional Support, Correctional Administration, the Criminal Intelligence Unit and Inmate Services.

Chief Deputy Culanding grew up in Virginia Beach and graduated from Green Run High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Norfolk State University and went on to work as a mental health technician at Norfolk Community Hospital before joining the VBSO. He has also completed graduate work through Virginia State Police and the University of Virginia’s National Criminal Justice Command College, attended the West Point Leadership Course and completed the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Officer training program.

Chief Deputy Culanding has served in the VBSO Professional Standards Office, Correctional Operations, Intake/Release, Court Security/Civil Process/Transportation, Training and Medical. He was a member of the Emergency Response Team from 1998-2011, serving as a general instructor certified by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and specializing in defensive tactics. He is also a strong proponent of physical fitness and completes the VBSO LawFit program twice a year.

Outside of work, Chief Deputy Culanding is a co-founding member of the Filipino American Law Enforcement Officers Association of Virginia (FALEOAVA). He is a regular blood donor for the American Red Cross and contributes to the United Way. He also volunteers his time to the annual United Way Day of Caring, the March of Dimes, National Night Out, Special Olympics Virginia, Green Run Elementary School and Seatack Elementary School, where he’s served as a mentor since 1999. Chief Deputy Culanding has also participated as a cyclist with the Police Unity Tour and Law Enforcement United Road to Hope, a 250-mile bike ride from Chesapeake, Virginia, to Washington, D.C. The ride honors fallen law enforcement officers and raises money to support their families.

Major Joseph Bartolomeo has built a distinguished career with the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office since joining in 2002, marked by diverse leadership roles and a commitment to excellence. Throughout his tenure, he has served in leadership positions in vital areas such as Correctional Operations, Correctional Support, the Criminal Intelligence Unit/K9 Unit/Classification, Court Security, and Training. In the latter, he played a pivotal role in implementing body-worn cameras. As Professional Standards and Accountability Captain, he was entrusted with maintaining the agency's integrity through internal investigations, developing and implementing policies and procedures, and ensuring compliance with state accreditation and Virginia Department of Corrections standards.

Major Bartolomeo’s dedication to service is further demonstrated by his 13 years on the VBSO Emergency Response Team and his certifications from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services as a General and Defensive Tactics Instructor. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and business from Virginia Military Institute and is a proud graduate of the FBI National Academy, Session 260. Beyond his professional achievements, Major Bartolomeo prioritizes physical fitness, participating in the VBSO LawFit program biannually, and he enjoys the camaraderie of sports. He is married with two children.