VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office’s 58th Basic Academy Class (BAC) has a father-son duo vying to become deputy sheriffs.
Franz “Mike” Leek, 49 (50 on Oct. 17), and Logan Leek, 18 (19 on June 27, 2025), embarked on their 17-week training on Monday, Sept. 23, after passing written and physical challenges to become part of BAC 58.
The pair lives in Pungo in Virginia Beach, where Logan was raised and graduated in 2024 from Kellam High School. Mike served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1993-2002. He then started and ran Hogs Tooth Precision Firearms, a successful business for the past eight years. While running the company, he got to know some of the VBSO’s sworn deputies, one of whom encouraged him to sign up for the academy after Logan.
“We are excited to have a father-son pair working to become Virginia Beach deputy sheriffs,” said Sheriff Rocky Holcomb. “This is a rarity in our line of work, perhaps happening every 10 or so years. The Leeks are committed to the VBSO and to the citizens of Virginia Beach. I wish them both the best of luck.”
Logan tried his hand at welding after high school, but quickly realized it wasn’t for him. He considered following in his father’s footsteps by enlisting in the military but decided instead to go into law enforcement. That’s when Mike realized he missed his time in the military and the job's camaraderie, discipline, and physicality. He started thinking,” If I wasn’t so old, I would do it.”.
A VBSO sergeant told him he was not.
“I mean,” Mike said with a smile, “might as well.”
“It’s a neat experience,” Mike said. “We are going to be competitive.”
The competition started with a neck-in-neck 1-mile test run before BAC 58 began. Logan won (just barely). “Logan keeps me on my toes,” Mike said. “It’ll be nice to have people to lean on, bounce stuff off of.”
Along with the academy’s 15 other deputy sheriff recruits, the Leeks will be trained over 17 weeks in Virginia law, arrest procedures, ethics, cultural diversity, firearms, defensive tactics, emergency vehicle operations, first aid, crisis intervention (mental health) and more, spanning 80 classes and 500 hours. The recruits also will complete rigorous physical fitness training and courses about the VBSO’s core operations: Corrections, Court Transportation and Security, and Civil Process. Upon successful graduation, each will earn their Basic Jailer, Court Security and Civil Process certifications.
Media interested in covering this story should contact Public Information Officer Toni Guagenti at tguagenti@vbso.net or 757-385-8446.