VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A long-dormant position in the Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office (VBSO) will be filled at the start of December to ensure more transparency and oversight of all "inmate-related services."
The position of major will oversee four tenets of police duties, the VBSO said:
- All inmate-related services in Correctional Operations
- Criminal Intelligence Unit
- Classification
- K9 Unit
Virginia Beach Sheriff Rocky Holcomb has selected Captain Joseph Bartolomeo, who currently oversees the VBSO's Professional Standards Office, for the role. He will report to the Chief Deputy of Operations.
“Over the past several months with the help of my Executive Leadership Team, we decided that the rank of Major is needed to bring more oversight and direction to day-to-day Correctional Center operations and all inmate services. I know Capt. Bartolomeo will provide that structure and leadership to the VBSO Captains, Lieutenants, Sergeants and Deputies,” Holcomb said in the announcement.
“He also will be transparent in his duties and Correctional Operations oversight and will serve in advancing our mission and values of T.R.U.S.T. (Transparency, Respect, Unity, Service and Training). I also continue to ensure that the safety and security of inmates and those who oversee them remain top priorities," Holcomb said.
The announcement comes a month after the VBSO confirmed they released five deputies involved in an incident where an inmate, Rolin Hill, died in custody in June. The medical examiner ruled Hill's death a homicide by "positional and mechanical asphyxia due to restraint with neck and torso compression." It was first reported he underwent a medical emergency.
At the time of the October update, the investigation into his death remained ongoing by Virginia State Police.
