Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office holds 52nd Basic Academy Class graduation
The Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office today held its 52nd Basic Academy Class graduation ceremony, recognizing 13 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.
The graduates come from many different parts of the United States, and as far away as Romania. Many of them have college degrees or specialty training and have a diverse employment history. The 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.
Any questions or requests for additional information from the news media may be directed to: Public Information Officers Toni Guagenti, tguagenti@vbso.net, or Margie Hobbs, mhobbs@vbso.net. They can also be reached at 757-385-8446.
