Sheriff Dave Rosado is a 23-year veteran of the Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York; he moved to Chesapeake in 1999. While steadily rising through the ranks, Undersheriff Rosado served with distinction in corrections, booking, support services, court services, administration, training, and public information. Undersheriff Rosado is a Certified Jail Manager through the American Jail Association. In June 2023, he graduated from the 286th Session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico. Breaking barriers and building connections, Dave Rosado was appointed Sheriff of Chesapeake in November 2024; the fourth in the City’s history and the first Hispanic Sheriff.
In 2017, he served as the CSO's Director of Training ensuring all deputy trainees who graduate from the Chesapeake Law Enforcement Training Academy were trained and prepared for service. Sheriff Rosado led the agency’s response to the COVID-pandemic as the Chief of Administration, before taking over as the Chief of Corrections in 2019. As Chief of Corrections, he was responsible for all operations in the Chesapeake Correctional Center, as well as the safety and security of the approximately 800 offenders and more than 250 Deputy Sheriffs and civilians in the Correctional Center. As Chief of Court Services, Sheriff Rosado oversaw the safety and security of the 288,000 people who enter the Chesapeake courthouses, court security operations, and civil enforcement.
As Undersheriff, Sheriff Rosado expanded the CSO's School Resource Deputy (SRD) program to place 14 SRDs in elementary schools. He also oversaw an expansion of the Chesapeake Correctional Center to include a state-of-the-art mental health/therapeutic ward. In 2015, the City of Chesapeake awarded Sheriff Rosado a “Public Service Award” for his “Be a Hero, not a Zero” school assembly shows. Sheriff Rosado used his sleight of hand and knowledge of interpersonal communication concepts to perform this educational, anti-bullying magic show to 75,000 students in Chesapeake Public Schools and the Hampton Roads area. With a passion for community service, he considers it his mission to protect Chesapeake’s seniors and mentor its youth. Sheriff Rosado is the head of the Sheriff’s Office’s Senior Advocate” office—working with the Commonwealth’s Attorney to investigate crimes affecting seniors.
When Sheriff Rosado is not working or volunteering, he enjoys spending time with his mother, Gertrudis, his loving wife, Janet, and their two children, Ileana and Antonio.
Experience Matters:
- As a deputy sheriff, Rosado worked in corrections and booking, responsible for the safety and security of approximately 600 offenders in the Chesapeake Correctional Center and safely processing offenders in and out of the facility.
- As a sergeant and first sergeant, Rosado worked in Public Information acting as the agency’s media liaison and spokesperson, managing the Office’s social media platforms, and conducting the CSO’s community outreach programs. As a certified Crime Prevention Officer, Rosado taught safety seminars and conducted safety inspections for local seniors.
- Rosado served as a Correctional and Administrative Lieutenant. As a Correctional Lieutenant, he was the Watch Commander responsible for all correctional operations during his shift and managed approximately 30 deputies and sergeants. As Administration Lieutenant, he supervised administrative operations including public information, human resources, asset/supply, fiscal administration, and special projects.
- As a Captain and member of the CSO’s Command Staff, Rosado served as the Training Academy Director supervising the training of new deputies and ensuring in-service hours are served to maintain the various certifications of 400+ deputy sheriffs.
- Upon his promotion to the rank of major, Rosado served as the Chief of Administration overseeing the $61-million budget of the Office and leading the agency’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure all offenders and employees have the necessary PPE and policies in safe to limit the virus’ spread. Next, he served as Chief of Corrections, overseeing all operations in the jail and work center, ultimately responsible for the safety and security of 900+ inmates and 200+ employees in the correctional center. Finally, he served as Chief of Court Services responsible for the safety and security of 288,000 people entering the court buildings last year, and the serving of 88,000 court papers.
- In 2022, Rosado was appointed to the position of Undersheriff. As Undersheriff he was responsible for all day-to-day operations of the Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office (corrections, administration, court services, internal affairs, and fugitive apprehension) at the direction of the Sheriff.
Awards & Recognition:
- Named “Persona de Poder” by Radio Poder in 2024
- Max Everton Hall of Fame Award by Special Olympics Virginia in 2024
- Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office Award of Excellence recipient in 2021
- City of Chesapeake Public Service Award recipient in 2015
- The Called Church’s Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award recipient in 2016
- Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office’s Community Service Award in 2016
Memberships:
- President, Children Today Leaders Tomorrow 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization
- President, Chesapeake Charities Inc. 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization
- Member, Chesapeake Rotary Club
- Board of Directors, Cornland School Foundation
- Member, Chesapeake School Safety Task Force
- Member, Task Force on Aging
- Member, Chesapeake Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #9
- Member, Virginia Sheriffs’ Association
