The Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office held its 55th Basic Academy Class graduation ceremony today, recognizing 19 recruits’ successful completion of training.
Family and friends attended the ceremony at Virginia Beach City Hall. Soon-to-be-sheriff Chief Deputy Rocky Holcomb gave the keynote address. This was retiring Sheriff Ken Stolle’s last basic academy class. During his 13-plus-year tenure, Sheriff Stolle successfully presided over 32 BAC graduations with 399 recruits sworn in as deputies.
“What lies within the modern-day deputy sheriff are qualities of character to which very few will ever aspire and that will surely lead you to accomplish amazing deeds throughout your career,” Chief Deputy Holcomb told to the graduates. “You, the newly sworn deputy sheriffs, have been called upon to draw the battlelines between those who seek to do harm to the innocent and the lawlessness we have seen all over the globe. And you, the modern-day deputy sheriff, without fear, hesitation, or reservation will allow us to sleep peacefully at night.”
The 17-week Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office Basic Academy includes training in Virginia law, ethics, cultural diversity, firearms, defensive tactics, emergency vehicle operations and first aid. The graduates also completed rigorous physical fitness training and courses pertaining to the Sheriff’s Office various functions: Corrections, Court Transportation and Security, and Civil Process. They each successfully met the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services requirements for graduation and have earned their Basic Jailer and Civil Process certifications.
The deputies will be assigned to the Virginia Beach Correctional Center and bring the number of active, sworn Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office deputies to 403.
The graduation can be viewed on Facebook .
Any questions or requests for additional information from the news media may be directed to Public Information Officer Toni Guagenti at tguagenti@vbso.net , (757) 385-8446 (office) or (757) 373-5012 (cell).