Sheriff Ken Stolle

As one of six children in a Navy family, Sheriff Ken Stolle grew up in and out of the Hampton Roads area. In 1971, the Stolle family permanently settled in Virginia Beach, where Ken graduated from Cox High School. Ken is serving his fourth term as Sheriff of Virginia Beach, after having been elected in 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2021. He previously served in the Virginia Senate as the Republican Leader Pro Tempore and represented the 8th Senatorial District, located in the eastern half of Virginia Beach.

Prior to being elected to the Senate in 1991, Ken was a partner with the Virginia Beach law firm of Bennett and Stolle, P.C. He was a sergeant in the Virginia Beach Police Department, where he served from 1976 until 1987. He also served as an intelligence officer in the United States Navy Reserve. Over the past decade, Ken has been the leading advocate for public safety at the state and local levels.

As a member of the Senate, Ken championed stricter penalties for gang activity, abolished parole and enhanced drunken driving penalties. As chairman of the Crime Commission, Ken sponsored new legislation to strengthen Virginia’s sex offender monitoring laws. He led the charge for increased retirement benefits for state and local police officers, deputy sheriffs and firefighters and supported improvements to the Line of Duty Act in order to make certain the children and spouses of fallen or disabled public safety officers are appropriately cared for.

He carried landmark measures to support small business, protect consumers and eliminate and cut taxes. He supported education, including by ensuring K-12 was fully funded.

The Virginia Sheriffs’ Association, Fraternal Order of Police, Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, Chiefs of Police and State Police Association have recognized Ken with their highest awards.

In his spare time, Ken enjoys hunting and is chairman of the Virginia Sportsmen’s Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that offers the opportunity for Wounded Warriors and military veterans to continue their rehabilitation in the great outdoors. He is also an avid supporter of Special Olympics Virginia and served on the organization’s Board of Directors. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2006 and has become an advocate for those battling the disease. He and his wife Debbie have three children - Whitney, Kenny and Ross - and five grandchildren.