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 LeJohn D. Tate Jr. is currently the executive commander overseeing the Law Enforcement Bureau at the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO). Before his present position, he worked in the Jail Division as a Detention Deputy, Uniform Patrol Division as a Certified Deputy, HEAT Unit member, Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Chief of Staff. He was promoted to the rank of Major on November 27, 2023.

Major Tate is a Los Angeles, California native, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, and a mentor in the community. Major Tate moved to Atlanta, Georgia to attend college. He graduated with a bachelor’s in criminal justice. While attending college, his love for law enforcement grew. Major Tate began his law enforcement career while in college. He worked with the Georgia Department of Corrections as a correctional officer. After college graduation, Major Tate applied for the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office. Major Tate's official start date with RCSO was September 11, 2017. In addition, Major Tate obtained his master’s degree in business administration with a minor in project management.

Major Tate's law enforcement career expands over nine years. He worked in the Department of Corrections, Dismas Charities (federal halfway house), and Rockdale County. Major Tate is dedicated to the success of the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office. Major Tate has a love for traffic enforcement and accident reduction. This 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.

Some of Major Tate's specialized training consists of:

• Executive Protection
• Drug Recognition Expert
• Advance Roadside Impairment
• Traffic on-scene investigations
• Instructor
• Field Training Officer
• SWAT level one

Major Tate has charged himself with never becoming complacent. In making that charge, he has vowed to make Rockdale County a better place. It is his goal to fight crime, increase employee retention, cultivate innovative ideas, and highlight the importance of community-oriented policing.

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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 Ernest Strozier currently serves as the Judicial Service 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 Jeff Peek currently serves as the commander of the Uniform Patrol Division at the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office (RCSO). He began his career in law enforcement in 2004 as a Detention Deputy with RCSO. After completing Basic Mandate at Clayton Regional Law Enforcement Academy, he was assigned to the Uniform Patrol Division in 2006 and has remained there since. Throughout his time with the division, Captain Peek has been involved in Crime Suppression, Traffic, Criminal Interdiction, K9, S.W.A.T, and has been promoted through the ranks, achieving the rank of Captain in June 2024.

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Captain Dexter Harris is currently assigned to the Jail Division at the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO). He began his journey with the RCSO in July 1995 as a detention officer in the jail, where he served for four years. In October 1998, he graduated from the Clayton County Law Enforcement Academy and was reassigned to the Uniform and Patrol Division. In 2000, he joined the S.W.A.T. team and served for four years. In 2005, he transitioned to the Criminal Investigation Division, where he spent eight years. Captain D. Harris' commitment and competence were recognized when he was promoted to Corporal in 2013, while still serving in the Criminal Investigation Division. In 2014, he was promoted to sergeant and transferred to the Warrants and Civil Division. In September 2015, he received the rank of Lieutenant and was assigned to the Community Police Division as the Watch commander. His responsibilities included organizing community events, neighborhood watches, and participating in community panels. In 2016, he was reassigned to the Uniform and Patrol Division as a Watch Commander. In 2018, he was transferred to the Office of Professional Standards as a lieutenant in charge of hiring and background checks, Internal Affairs, Accreditation, Policy and Procedures, and Human Resources. In 2019, he became the Commander at the Courthouse. In 2022, he was reassigned to Warrants and Civil as the assistant Commander. In 2024, he was promoted to Captain and assigned to the Jail Division.

Captain D. Harris served eight years in the United States Army from July 1987 to July 1995. He was deployed to Saudi Arabia in 1990 and served in the Gulf War from September 1990 until June 1991.

• EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALS
• A.S. (associate in law enforcement) Thomas University, 2017
• Columbus State University-PMP Certificate
• Post Management Certification, 2011

WORK HISTORY AND AWARDS:

• Gulf War Veteran-1990-1991
• 1995-Detention Deputy (Jail)
• 1999-Patrol Deputy (Uniform Patrol Division)
• 2000-2002 S.W.A.T team member
• 2001-Uniform Patrol Deputy of the Year
• 2002-Field Training Officer Certification (Clayton County Law Enforcement Academy)
• 2003-2005- assigned to the Lakeview Precinct (C.O.P.S)
• 2003-First Responder certification
• 2005-Promoted to the Criminal Investigation Division
• 2008-2010-S.W.A.T. Team member
• 2009-Dekalb County S.W.A.T. school graduate
• 2009-Homicide Investigation (G.P.S.T.C) Forsyth, GA
• 2010-Criminal Investigator of the Year
• 2013-Promoted to the rank of Corporal in the Criminal Investigation Division
• 2014-Promoted to the rank of Sergeant (Warrants and Civil)
• 2015-Appointed to the rank of Lieutenant
• C.O.P.S
• Uniform Patrol
• Office of Professional Standards
• Courthouse
• Warrants Civil Division
• 2015 Intermediate Certification
• 2015-Supervisory Certification
• 2017-Management Certification
• 2024-Promoted to the Rank of Captain

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Lieutenant Tasha Forte currently serves as the Commander of the Office of Professional Standards (OPS)/Internal Affairs at the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office (RCSO). She has been a part of the law enforcement community since 2011, starting her career with the Atlanta Police Department. During her time with the Atlanta Police Department, she spent four years as a Uniform Patrol and School Resource Officer.

In May 2015, Lieutenant Forte began her career with RCSO as a School Resource Officer. In January 2019, she was promoted to Investigator and assigned to OPS/Background and Recruiting. In July 2021, Lieutenant Forte was transferred to the Traffic Unit and promoted to Corporal. In September 2022, she was assigned to the Uniform Patrol and promoted to Sergeant.

Finally, in January 2024, Lieutenant Forte was promoted to her current rank of Lieutenant and tasked with serving as the Commander of OPS/Internal Affairs.

Lieutenant Forte has received specialized training in various areas including Certified Voice Stress Analyst (CVSA), Supervisory Certificate, Radar and Lidar Certification, Intermediate Certificate, Hostage Negotiator, Crisis Intervention Training (CIT), Law Enforcement Phlebotomist, Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT), and School Resource Officer.

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