Sheriff Rocky Holcomb
Sheriff Rocky Holcomb has served the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office (VBSO) since 1991 and, prior to his promotion to chief deputy in May 2018, served as captain of the Criminal Intelligence Unit and Classification Division.
As the VBSO's highest ranking deputy sheriff, he was sworn in as sheriff of Virginia Beach on Sept. 29, 2023, to succeed Sheriff Ken Stolle, who retired after 13 years as sheriff with two years left in his term. Sheriff Holcomb will serve until a special election is held. He is Virginia Beach's seventh sheriff and the first to rise through the ranks, having started as a deputy sheriff recruit.
Sheriff Holcomb’s leadership values are encompassed by the acronym T.R.U.S.T.: Transparency, Respect, Unity, Service and Training.
During Sheriff Holcomb's career at the VBSO, he has served in every division, commanded the Emergency Response Team and championed efforts to improve mental health treatment for inmates, including by creating the Mental Health Housing Unit. He created the K9 Unit under the supervision of Undersheriff Brian Struzzieri, acquiring and training two canines to detect narcotics and explosives. The K9 Unit has grown to three canines, including the region’s first Fentanyl-detecting canine paired with the VBSO’s first female handler. As captain of the Classification Division, he was instrumental in the creation of the Reentry and Veterans programs.
In 2017, he won a special election to represent the 85th District in the Virginia House of Delegates. He served during the 2017 legislative session, helping successfully carry bills to improve mental health treatment for jail inmates (HB2184) and expand access to contraception (HB2267).
On Aug. 12, 2021, the Virginia Beach City Council unanimously appointed him to fill the unexpired term for the Kempsville District (District 1) on City Council, and he won a special election to keep the seat on Nov. 8, 2022. He served as liaison to many different boards, committees and commissions prior to resigning on Sept. 29, 2023, before becoming sheriff.
Sheriff Holcomb is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps with an honorable discharge. After joining the VBSO, he earned his bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and management from Regent University and graduated from the West Point Leadership Course.
He is an active volunteer, dedicating his time to the Pungo Strawberry Festival, Kempsville Meadows Elementary School and Mt. Trashmore Family YMCA.
He and his wife, Tracie, have been married for 29 years and have two children, Summer and Norman.