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Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office holds 50th Basic Academy graduation

The Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office today held its 50th Basic Academy graduation ceremony, recognizing eight deputy recruits’ successful completion of training. The graduation was conducted virtually due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and can be viewed on Facebook and YouTube.

Most of the graduates are from Hampton Roads. More than half have college degrees and two are prior military, having served in the Army and the Navy. They have varied past careers working at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, Starbucks and the U.S. Postal Service.

Sheriff Ken Stolle congratulated the graduates on their accomplishment and thanked them for committing to serve at a difficult time for law enforcement.

“We just don’t have people that are willing to make the sacrifice, but these are examples of people that are willing to make the sacrifice and do what’s necessary for the community,” Sheriff Stolle said. “I can’t think of a greater honor than being a law enforcement officer and protecting your community and I can’t think of a bigger responsibility.”

“When you graduate today you’re going to be deputies and you’re going to be held accountable for being a deputy, a higher standard than anybody else,” he added.

The 16-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 397. With 48 vacant sworn positions, the VBSO is hiring and will conduct its next written and physical ability testing on Sept. 18. The starting salary for recruits is $45,656, which increases to $47,964 after graduation from the Basic Academy. To apply, visit vbgov.com/careers.

Any questions or requests for additional information from the news media may be directed to Kathy Hieatt, Public Information Officer, at 757.570.9123.