The Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office held its 52nd Basic Academy Class graduation ceremony, recognizing thirteen deputy recruits’ successful completion of training. For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in March 2020, the graduation was opened to family and friends at the Law Enforcement Training Academy in Virginia Beach. The ceremony was also broadcast live via Facebook and can be seen on the VBSO’s YouTube channel https://youtu.be/BtpWl87k1sQ.
Most of the graduates come from many different parts of the United States, and in one graduate’s case, as far as Romania. Many of them have college degrees or specialty training and have a diverse employment history. Some of our graduates have prior law enforcement, military, corrections, and private sector experience.
Sheriff Ken Stolle congratulated the graduates on their accomplishments and thanked them for their commitment to protecting and serving Virginia Beach, saying “We have to live up to our promises and our reputation.” He welcomed the new graduates to the VBSO family.
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 399.
If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact: Toni Guagenti, [email protected] or Margie Hobbs, [email protected], VBSO Public Information Officers. They can also be reached at 757-385-8446.