Chief Deputy Dale A. Holmes, who has lived with his family in Rockdale County since 1998 and retired as Assistant Chief of the DeKalb County Police Department in 2015 after 28 years of service, stepped up to the position of Chief Deputy for the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office in August 2017.

He began his law enforcement career with the DeKalb County Police Department in 1987 and rose through the ranks starting with street patrol to directing and leading law enforcement personnel, and eventually executive management. In 2006, Chief Deputy Holmes was promoted to Deputy Chief of the special operations division where he managed 86 sworn and 195 non-sworn personnel. Three years later he was promoted to Assistant Chief of Police (investigations, support services divisions.) in 2009 and Uniform Division Commander in 2012. Along the way, he gained valuable experience. He received the Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Management and Supervisory Certifications; was assigned as Commander of the narcotics section and managed personnel in the DeKalb High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Task Force, the Narcotics Unit, the Vice Unit, the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team, White Collar Fraud Unit, Permits Unit, and the DeKalb Taxi Wrecker Bureau.

He has managed fiscal responsibilities to include the Narcotics Seizure & Awarded Seizure Accounts, the Investigative Funds Accounts, and HIDTA Grant funding, as well as managed grants for the Aerial Support, Bomb, Commercial Vehicle, and Strategic Traffic Accident Reductions (S.T.A.R.) (DUI) Units. His command experiences also include being Assistant Commander of DeKalb County Homeland Security and Intelligence, Deputy Chief of the Special Operations Division, and Assistant Police Chief. Among his honors, Holmes was named DeKalb Police Detective of the Year and North DeKalb Rotary Club Detective of the Year in 1995.

Chief Deputy Holmes attended Tuskegee University, where he graduated in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He is also a 2007 graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Academy, and in 2010 earned a Master of Science degree in Education from Central Michigan University.

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Major Keemeit Johnson is currently a Major at the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO). He served previously as the South Precinct Commander for Dekalb County Police Department for three years before assuming his current role. With over 28 years as a public servant, Major Johnson is a highly accomplished and experienced law enforcement executive. He was promoted to the rank of Major April 4, 2015.

Major Johnson began his career in October of 1991 with Dekalb County Police Department as a Patrol Officer. During his tenure, he was responsible for the daily precinct operations while managing approximately 128 police officers and civilian personnel. Prior to this appointment, Johnson’s 28-year career with the DeKalb County Police Department included assignments such as Assistant Precinct Commander, Assistant Special Investigations Unit Commander, and Detective Lieutenant of the Special Victims Unit. He began his career at the RCSO on August 24, 2020.

Major Johnson made significant strides to advance the DeKalb County Police Department. His vision which aligned with the principles of 21st Century Policing, focused fundamentally on the reduction of crime and community involvement. During his tenure, Johnson instituted several community initiatives that supported this vision. Under his leadership Major Johnson has accomplished a 31% reduction in violent crime between 2015 and 2017, and a 14% reduction in property crime during this same period. Two additional accomplishments include hosting the first ever Youth Violence Symposium in DeKalb County in 2018 and the creation of a Child Abduction Response Team (CART) Unit.

His educational accomplishments include completion of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Academy (FBINA) Training for Law Enforcement Executives, Cybercrime Investigation training, Sex Crimes training, Missing & Exploited Children Chief Executive Officer training, Leadership for Missing and Abducted Children training, and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia Southern University. Major Johnson has been a proud member of N.O.B.L.E. since 2014. He is a Board Member for the Dekalb Rape Crisis Center/Day League, a member of the Dekalb County Steering Committee for Re-entry, and a
member of the Dekalb Juvenile Court Youth Advisory Council.

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Major William Z. Miller is currently a Major at the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO). He fulfilled his lifelong dream of being a peace officer when he began his law enforcement career in 1984 with the DeKalb County Police Department. Over his 29-year career with DeKalb County, he worked in nearly every Division of Police Services, rising through the ranks to the position of Deputy Chief in 2006.

Along the way, Major Miller received numerous commendations and awards, and obtained his Undergraduate (Magna Cum Laude) and Law Degrees from Georgia State University, and in 2007 he joined the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office as a prosecutor. Two years later, he was appointed as DeKalb County’s third Public Safety Director, a position he held until he retired from DeKalb County in 2013.

Major Miller joined the Clarkston Police Department in 2019 where he investigated all serious crimes, but mostly dealt with homicides and serious felonies. He received commendations from the Clarkston City Council for his work in solving two homicides that occurred within three days of each other in September 2019.

On May 10, 2021, Major Miller joined the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office as Chief Jailer. He is extremely proud and pleased to serve the citizens of Rockdale County and brings his many years of management experience to assist in making the Rockdale County Jail one of the best in the nation.

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Chief of Staff LeJohn D. Tate was appointed the rank, Chief of Staff at the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) February 5, 2022. Before his current rank he served as a shift sergeant in the Uniformed Patrol Division. COS Tate is a Los Angeles, California native who moved to Georgia to further his education and begin his law enforcement career 8 years ago as a Correctional Officer with the Georgia Department of Corrections. He has also worked for Dismas Charities Federal Halfway house where he was responsible for the safety and tracking of residents.

In 2017, COS Tate took the next step in his career becoming a certified peace officer. COS Tate has been employed with the RCSO for 5 years. In his time at the RCSO, COS Tate served as a Detention Deputy, Certified Deputy, Corporal over the RCSO Heat unit specializing in Driving Under the Influence, and as a shift Sergeant before his appointment to Chief of Staff. He is a Field Training Officer and General Instructor. In addition, he has a desire to reduce the likelihood of serious injury accidents due to driving under the influence. COS Tate, attended training for Impaired Driving, Advanced Roadside Impairment, and Drug Recognition, leading to him obtaining the title of Drug Recognition Expert (DRE). As a DRE he has served as an expert witness in cases related to DUI’s. He has also attended On-Scene traffic investigations. His love for traffic enforcement and accident reduction was truly displayed through the operations he introduced to the agency. He implemented a concept called “Traffic Tuesdays” to educate the motoring public on how to foster positive encounters with law enforcement during traffic stops. Through Traffic Tuesday, he has held several in person talks within the Rockdale County Public School System to teach students safety tips on driving.

COS Tate earned his bachelor’s in criminal justice from Clark Atlanta University and his master’s in business administration from Herzing University. He has also been trained and certified in Special Weapons and Tactics, Crisis Intervention, Grant Management, Emergency Management, and Executive Protection.

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Captain Tom Brewer is currently assigned as the Jail Commander. He has been employed with the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) for almost 22 years. In that time, he has worked in Uniform Patrol as a patrol deputy, Criminal Investigations Unit as an investigator/supervisor, and the SWAT Team as a commander. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in 2019.

Captain Brewer began his law enforcement career in 1990 with the Conyers Police Department as a road deputy and detective. He took a break from law enforcement in 1994 for 6 years and in 2000 he began his career at the RCSO. He was promoted to the supervisory rank of Corporal in 2004 while in CID. A year later, in 2005, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and continued as a supervisor in the Criminal Investigations Unit and a Sergeant on the SWAT Team. In 2009 he was appointed to the rank of Lieutenant and served as a Shift Commander in Uniform Patrol Division and SWAT Team Commander. In 2016, Captain Brewer served as the Assistant Commander of the Support Services Division while holding the rank of Lieutenant. Captain Brewer returned to Uniform Patrol in 2018 and served as the Assistant Division Commander
until his promotion to the rank of Captain. In 2019, Captain Brewer served as the Division Commander of Judicial Services, then moved to Support Services in 2021 as the Division Commander. In April 2022 he moved to the Jail Division as one of the Jail Commanders. Captain Brewer has worked as a commander in every division at the RCSO.

Captain Brewer began his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice at UGA and completed it at Georgia State University. He also holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from Columbus State University. In 2005, he received the prestigious Supervisor of the Year Award along with a Hometown Hero civilian award for his investigative work in the Rockdale community. Captain Brewer also possesses his POST-Managerial & Supervisory Certifications along with Advanced and Intermediate Certifications.

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Captain Tijuana Harris is presently assigned as commander to the Support Services Division at the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO). She previously served as the Jail Commander and Administrative Lieutenant. This Administrative Lieutenant position granted her the opportunity to assume the role of Interim Jail Commander/Assistant Jail Commander and continue the implementation of the RCSO COVID-19 Jail Division Management Plan. She was promoted to the rank of Captain August 2020.

Captain Harris began her law enforcement career in 1998 when she joined the RCSO as a Detention Deputy. She successfully completed her Basic Peace Officer Certification at the Fulton County Public Safety Training Center in 2001. She transferred to the Rockdale County Court Services Division in 2003 and worked as Superior Court bailiff until 2005 when she left her law enforcement career and relocated to Nashville Tennessee with her family. In 2007 when Captain Harris returned to the Rockdale County community, she resumed her career with the RCSO and was assigned to the Jail Division. Within six months of her return, she received a lateral promotion to Jail Administration as the Bond Administrator and GA Crime Information Center Terminal Agency Coordinator.

While embracing these new responsibilities she was promoted to Corporal in 2013 and Sergeant in 2017 by Sheriff Eric J. Levett. In April 2018, she was transferred to the Office of Professional Standards. This
division is responsible for Recruitment, Background Investigations, Hiring, Citizen Complaints, Use of Force Investigations as well as Internal Affairs Investigations. She was also the Public Information Officer where she conducted interviews with the media, reporting events and occurrences for transparent communication with the public. In December 2018, she was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and transferred to the Jail Division as Shift Commander. This role involved managing day to day jail operations with more than twenty subordinates and an inmate population of over 400. Captain Harris embraced this responsibility and received another promotion as Jail Administrative Lieutenant in February 2020.

Captain Harris has earned certifications for Jail Officer, Intermediate Peace Officer, Managerial, Supervisory, and General Instructor through the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (GA P.O.S.T.). Other certifications include Professional Management Program through Columbus State University where she also majored in Criminal Justice and earned her Bachelor of Science degree. Captain Harris is passionate about all people, law enforcement, and the vision and mission of the RCSO. During her tenure, Captain Harris has enjoyed spending quality time at numerous community events and has served as a member of the Rockdale County Mentoring Program.

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Captain Tyler Hooks is currently the commander of the Uniform Patrol Division at the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO). Before his present position, he served as a shift Lieutenant and then as the Assistant Division Commander for the Uniform Patrol Division. He was promoted to the rank of Captain on October 30, 2021.

Captain Hooks knew he wanted to be in law enforcement at an early age. Following his high school graduation at Heritage High School in Rockdale County, he enrolled in the criminal justice bachelor’s program at Valdosta State University. His official law enforcement career began with the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office on February 16, 2004, as a Detention Deputy. In March 2006, he became a certified officer and was assigned to the Uniform Patrol Division as a patrol deputy.

In 2007, Captain Hooks completed the Columbus State University Professional Management Program and received a certificate in criminal justice. With the knowledge gained, he was able to apply his skills and was named Deputy of the year for the Uniform Patrol Division in 2008. During his time in Uniform Patrol Division, Captain Hooks was a member of the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office S.W.A.T. Team, the R.C.S.O. Dive Team, and the crime suppression unit, and became a traffic accident reconstructionist. In October 2010, Captain Hooks was promoted to Investigator and was assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division. In August 2011, he was assigned to Task Force Group II with the Drug Enforcement Administration. As a member of Task Force Group II, Captain Hooks investigated domestic and international drug trafficking organizations.

During his time with DEA, he graduated from DEA Atlanta’s Leadership Development Program which was a program dedicated to enhancing the leadership skills of members within the Atlanta Field Division. In 2012, Captain Hooks received his bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Phoenix. This led to his promotion to Corporal in February 2015 and was reassigned to general criminal investigations where he supervised eleven Investigators within the Division. In September 2016, he was promoted to Sergeant and took command of the Narcotics and Vice Unit. In December 2018, Captain Hooks was promoted to Lieutenant within the Criminal Investigation Division and oversaw the day-to-day operations of the entire division. In May 2020, Captain Hooks received the Excellence in the Pursuit of Justice Award from the United States Attorney’s Office for his contributions to the mission of the U.S. Department of Justice.

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Captain Ernest Strozier currently serves as the Criminal Investigations Division Commander for the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office overseeing investigations. He joined the Rockdale County Sheriff’s  Office in December of 2017 as the Captain of the Uniform Patrol Division which is the largest division in the Sheriff’s Office. Prior to joining the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office, Captain Strozier served 30 years with the College Park Police Department where he retired as a Major in the Criminal Investigations Division.

Captain Strozier is dedicated to service and has been excited to bring his extensive background to benefit the citizens of Rockdale County. He is proud to serve the Sheriff of Rockdale County and is committed to supporting him in fulfilling the Sheriff’s Office vision of being a leader in personnel safety, quality personnel, equipment, technology, training, professionalism, integrity, and transparency. Captain Strozier obtained his Paralegal Certification from Clayton State University, a Bachelor of Arts Degree from St. Leo University, and is a graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy class #228.

Captain Strozier is an active member of the FBI National Academy Associates, The Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Georgia Sheriff’s Association.

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Captain Dennis Pass presently holds the position of Jail Commander at the Rockdale County Jail. He has served in roles that include Inmate Affairs Commander, Reentry Program Manager, Watch Commander, and Administrative Lieutenant in his 28+ years of service in the Jail Division. He was promoted to the rank of Captain on October 31, 2019. Captain Pass began his career June 13, 1994 as a Detention Deputy when he joined the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO). He assisted Sheriff Levett, in collaboration with county and community partners, to develop and implement the Rockdale Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RRSAT) program and Rockdale Reentry Intervention and Prevention Program (RRIPP). The RRSAT program has had over 250 graduates and has brought a sharp drop in participant’s involvement in criminal activity and return to incarceration.

After becoming a CPR instructor in 1999 and a Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) instructor in 2001 Captain Pass has provided training to Rockdale Sheriff’s Office staff and other agencies including a Regional Law Enforcement Academy, Georgia Jail Association conferences, and presented at a National convention in Washington DC for Second Chance Act grantees in 2015. His education background includes a certificate in Professional Management (Criminal Justice) from Columbus State University, a paramedic certificate from Clayton State University, an associate degree in Graphic Arts, and completion of a three-year program of Applied Bible Study. Captain Dennis Pass has served on several community and Atlanta area boards including the Metro Atlanta Reentry Coalition Advisory Board (MARC), Rockdale County Adult Drug Court Program, and currently serves on the Rockdale Accountability Court Advisory Board (since 2019), Rockdale County Stepping Up Steering Committee (since 2019) and the Rockdale United Way Advisory Board (since 2014).

His mission is to make a positive impact in the lives of his co-workers, those in custody, and the community. As a husband and father of six children, he enjoys spending time with his family, serves in the ministry of the church he attends, and is actively involved in coaching youth sports.

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Captain Jason Welch is currently the Divisional Commander of the Judicial Services Division. He has been employed with the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office for 18 years. He has worked as a Detention
Deputy, Patrol Deputy, and Investigator in the Criminal Investigations Division.

With over nine years of supervisory experience, Captain Welch has served as a Corporal and Sergeant of the undercover Narcotics/Vice Unit. He was appointed to the rank of Lieutenant and served as a Uniform Patrol Shift Commander, and a Special Investigations Commander.

Captain Welch also served as the Assistant Commander of the Uniform Patrol Division prior to being promoted to the rank of Captain and becoming a Divisional Commander. Captain Welch has commanded the following Divisions within the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office: Jail Division, Uniform Patrol Division, and currently serves as the Commander of the Judicial Services Division and Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team.

In 2006 he graduated from the Clayton Regional Law Enforcement Academy to become a Georgia P.O.S.T. Certified Law Enforcement Officer. By 2015 Captain Jason Welch obtained a General Instructor /Firearms Instructor Certification from the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council and completed the Professional Management Program at Columbus State University in 2016.

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Lieutenant Jeremy Best is currently the Office of Professional Standards (OPS) Commander at the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO). He graduated from Georgia College and State University with a BA in Criminal Justice in May of 2008 before starting his career with the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office on June 8^th, 2009 where he began his service as a Detention Deputy. While initially offered the opportunity to start as a Rockdale County Sheriff’s Deputy, he elected to begin his introduction into criminal justice within the jail so that he could acquire knowledge and training on enforcing rules and regulations, as well as developing proper communication skills. Having served a year and a half with the Jail Division, Jeremy Best was selected to attend basic mandate in Forsyth, Ga where he obtained his Basic Law Enforcement Certificate on April 11^th, 2011. Much of his time with the Uniform Patrol Division was assigned to evening watch. He obtained his Field Training Officer Certificate during his last year with UPD and was able to successfully train five Deputies. While with UPD Jeremy Best took the initiative to solve and make his own cases in addition to using proactive patrol techniques to hamper crime trends in the zones he patrolled. During one incident, he apprehended a suspect committing a burglary in progress. No other units were able to respond due to a serious vehicle accident on the interstate. With no other recourse, Jeremy Best made the decision to clear the residence, caught the suspect in the commission of the crime, and apprehended him. The suspect would later be successfully convicted of Burglary 1^st Degree.

On September 1^st, 2014 Jeremy Best was promoted to the rank of Investigator and transferred over to the Criminal Investigation Division. Within his first week with CID, the bureau was struck with a scandal that lead to the dismissal of three-quarters of its investigators. Due to the limited personnel within the division, Jeremy Best was quickly inundated with cases of various types. Through trial and error, as well as persistent work, he was able to manage his cases and solve several within his first month. Jeremy Best was soon selected as the southside burglary investigator and named as one of the major felony investigators. Within the first 8-months of being assigned to CID, he was made lead investigator of two home invasion cases, one of which was an attempted murder. He was able to identify the suspects and obtain convictions in both. These cases were some of the first in Rockdale County to use the newly created criminal charge O.C.G.A. 16-7-5 Home Invasion 1^st Degree, implemented thru House Bill 770 in 2014.

Jeremy Best spent 5 years in CID before being promoted to the rank of Corporal on December 31^st, 2016, and filled the vacant Corporal position inside of CID.  He operated as the “southside” burglary and major felony investigator. On September 8^th, 2020 Jeremy Best was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in CID where he held that position until March 2020. On March 23^rd, 2020, while retaining his rank, Jeremy Best transferred over to the Office of Professional Standards to fill the position of Crime Analyst and Internal Affairs Supervisor.

He then was promoted to Lieutenant in July 2021 and transferred to Uniform Patrol as a Shift Commander. After 3 months he transferred back to the Office of Professional Standards as the OPS Commander.

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