CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Jim O'Sullivan is retiring from his role as Chesapeake's Sheriff after 12 years in the position and 33 years of service.
Sheriff O'Sullivan started his career in law enforcement in 1991, joining the Chesapeake Sheriff's Office in 1992. He was appointed Sheriff in October 2012 and won his first election in 2013. His retirement comes at the end of his fourth term in the role of Sheriff.
During his time as Sheriff, O'Sullivan was committed to making the Chesapeake community a safer and healthier place to live. He worked alongside legislators, the Chesapeake Department of Health, and the Virginia Department of Corrections to create a COVID unit at Chesapeake Correctional Center to treat those infected and control the spread of the virus at the facility.
In 2022, Sheriff O'Sullivan created the region's first School Resource Deputy program, providing 28 schools in the division with trained and dual-certified Deputy Sheriffs to protect students and staff, and to give children a positive and reassuring interaction with law enforcement.
Colonel Dave Rosado will take over as the fourth Sheriff in the city's history on Nov. 1, 2024. Colonel Rosado is a 23-year veteran of the Chesapeake Sheriff's Office and the city's first Hispanic Undersheriff.