THE INDEPENDENT NEWS
Ed. — The following are responses to questions posed by The Independent News to candidates in the special election for Virginia Beach Sheriff. Answers to our questions in this series generally are not edited, aside from obvious punctuation issues, spacing and formatting, or for clarity. The Sunday, Sept. 22, voter guide edition is still available on some of our secondary racks until Election Day.
All Virginia Beach voters can vote in this special election.
ROCKY HOLCOMB
Residence: Kempsville
Age: 56
Occupation: Sheriff of Virginia Beach
Military Service/Education: United States Marine Corps veteran with an honorable discharge. Bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and management from Regent University.
Endorsements: Virginia Beach FOP Lodge 8, Virginia Beach Police Benevolent Association and Virginia Beach Professional Fire & EMS (Local 2924)
Website: rockyholcombvbsheriff.com
Phone: (757) 285-6000
Email: normhol@gmail.com
Social Media: sheriffrockyholcomb on Facebook, vbsheriffrockyholcomb on Instagram and @Rocky_Holcomb on X
What are your specific qualifications for this office? Serving this community as the Sheriff of Virginia Beach has been the highest honor of my life. I have proudly worn a Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office star since 1991, and I have held every rank and position at the Sheriff’s Office, rising through the ranks. I understand our Sheriff’s Office operations because I have walked the walk. I am the only candidate with this experience.
Please describe your law enforcement experience. I have proudly served the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office since 1991 and have served in every division. In that role I have worked hand-in-hand with our public safety partners at the Virginia Beach Police Department and am also a graduate of the West Point Leadership Course.
Please describe your management experience. I have served in a leadership position at the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office for over a decade. I also helped manage our state government as a former member of the Virginia General Assembly and our City as a former member of City Council.
Please describe how you will work with officials at the judicial center to provide a safe and secure environment for personnel and the public. As Sheriff of Virginia Beach, I am responsible for the safety and security of the Virginia Beach Courthouse and maintaining order in its courtrooms. As a captain and chief deputy, I supported safety improvements including enhanced security screening, secured parking for judges, active shooter training for Court Security deputies and Courthouse staff, and more. I have experience working closely with the judges and Courthouse staff. If re-elected, the safety and security of the judicial center will continue to be a priority.
How will you work with local agencies and within your own office to address mental health concerns of those in your custody? Mental health has been a central issue that I have focused on throughout my 33-year career at the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office. As a captain, I created the jail’s first Mental Health Housing Unit and spearheaded Operation Green Thumb, a gardening project for inmates suffering from mental illness. If re-elected, I will continue to make mental health a priority. I will continue to work with our Virginia Beach public safety and mental health partners to improve community resources for those in need, divert the mentally ill from jail whenever possible, and help inmates get better and stay better after release.
What will you do as sheriff to help address issues with addiction and provide substance abuse treatment or services for inmates? As Sheriff, I feel strongly that I have a responsibility to offer treatment and rehabilitation opportunities to offenders suffering from the disease of addiction. In my first term, I created the Road to Hope, which includes rehabilitative programs, including our Substance Abuse Program. As part of the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office leadership for many years, I also supported creation of the detox housing unit to ensure offenders going through detox have the necessary resources and medication to do so safely. If reelected, I will continue to expand these services.
ALDO “PEACEMAKER” DIBELARDINO
Residence: Great Neck
Age: 55
Occupation: inventor and small business owner
Education: 1987 Graduated from Cox High School; 1988 Navy ROTC at University of Virginia, Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering (1992); and 1997 Harvard Business School
Endorsements: annvandersteel.com, nationallibertyalliance.org (John Darash) and ourcountryourchoice.com
Website: aldo4sheriff.com or peacemakersheriff.org
Social Media: peacemakersheriff on Facebook
What are your specific qualifications for this office? Outsider, when we need change and better options. Accomplished inventor with proven skills at understanding and improving broken complex systems. Faithful servant who refuses to accept the slavery our current system traps souls in. More at CourtOfPublicAwakening.org and PeaceMakerSheriff.org.
Please describe your law enforcement experience.
- Hired to become a Virginia Beach Deputy Sheriff in July 2022 + firearm certified.
- In Virginia Beach, the Police enforce laws on our streets. Sheriffs operate the jail and secure our courts.
- Sheriffs are separate Constitutional Officers sworn to uphold our constitution – a contract that protects people from rogue government activity.
- Sheriffs should not be controlled by judges, but rather are accountable to the people and must protect ‘lady justice’ in our courts.
- Student of Natural, Common, and Constitutional Rights.
Visit CourtOfPublicAwakening.org to see what I am already doing to serve and protect our inalienable rights to Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Happiness.
Please describe your management experience. Successfully operated a business for +27 years. Without a criminal record or bankruptcy – in fact I have been blessed with success and the ability to serve and help others.
Please describe how you will work with officials at the judicial center to provide a safe and secure environment for personnel and the public. I am already doing that, working to improve our collective reality and judicial systems – please see CourtOfPublicAwakening.org
How will you work with local agencies and within your own office to address mental health concerns of those in your custody? I am putting together a coalition of interested churches & parties to bring a successful and known program, Celebrate Recovery Inside, to the Virginia Beach Jail. This program has ties into our community to also provide transition services so the work and growth done while inside can and will continue outside in our community.
What will you do as sheriff to help address issues with addiction and provide substance abuse treatment or services for inmates? Please see the previous response. + our jails should be considered as ‘soul hospitals’ where bad behaviors can be addressed with all the tools available so that all souls may be redeemed.
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