Command & Organization
The Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office is led by Sheriff Ken Stolle, Undersheriff Brian Struzzieri and Chief Deputies Victoria Thomson and Rocky Holcomb. Retired Undersheriff Bruce Benson serves as Executive Aide to the Sheriff.
Sheriff Ken Stolle was first elected by the Virginia Beach voters to serve as sheriff in 2009, taking office on Jan. 1, 2010. He successfully won re-election to subsequent four-year terms in 2013 and 2017. Sheriff Stolle is a licensed attorney and, prior to his time as sheriff, served 18 years in the Virginia Senate and was a Virginia Beach police sergeant. His full biography is available at vbso.net/sheriff-ken-stolle.
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. He oversaw implementation of the Security Housing Unit, 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 U.S. Department of Justice.
Chief Deputy Victoria Thomson has served the Sheriff’s Office since 1992 and is the highest ranking woman in Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office history. She oversees the VBSO’s Administration.
Chief Thomson comes from a Navy family and graduated from Green Run High School in Virginia Beach. After joining the Sheriff’s Office, she earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Saint Leo University and went on to graduate from the West Point Leadership Course, the National Criminal Justice Command College through the University of Virginia and the National Institute of Corrections Executive Excellence Program. She was promoted to Chief Deputy in 2014 and previously served as captain of Corrections, Special Projects/Procurement and Training.
Chief Deputy Thomson is a marathoner, having completed the 2018 Yuengling Shamrock Marathon, and is actively involved in the community, including volunteering with Special Olympics Virginia and Law Enforcement United (LEU). She has completed LEU’s Road to Hope ride to Washington to honor fallen law enforcement officers several times.
She comes from a law enforcement family. Her family members involved in public service include her husband, who is a retired Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) sergeant, and her son, who is a VBPD officer.
Chief Deputy Holcomb has served the Sheriff’s Office since 1991 and, prior to his promotion to chief deputy in May 2018, served as captain of the Criminal Intelligence Unit and Classification Division. He oversees the VBSO’s Operations.
On Aug. 12, 2021, the Virginia Beach City Council unanimously appointed Chief Deputy Holcomb to fill the unexpired term for the Kempsville District on Council until a special election can be scheduled.
Chief Deputy Holcomb is from Onslow County, N.C. He served eight years in the Marine Corps as an infantryman (three years of active service and five years as an inactive reservist). After joining the Sheriff’s Office, 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. 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).
During his career at the Sheriff’s Office, Chief Deputy Holcomb has served as commander of the Emergency Response Team and championed efforts to improve mental health treatment for inmates, including by creating the Mental Health Housing Unit and a gardening therapy program, Operation Green Thumb. He created the K9 Unit under the supervision of Undersheriff Struzzieri, acquiring and training two canines to detect narcotics and explosives. As captain of the Classification Division, he was instrumental in the creation of the Reentry and Veterans programs. The Reentry Program is one of the most successful in the state, with a success rate of 67% or better.