Is lowering the hiring age for sheriff's deputies helping? Local offices weigh in and last updated 2021-06-01 17:08:22-04 NORFOLK, Va. -- The search for law enforcement officers has challenged sheriff's offices recently, and finding new recruits proves to be difficult. "People don't seem to be signing to get into law enforcement as they have in the past,â Sheriff Jim OâSullivan of the Chesapeake Sheriffâs Office said. "Now you throw in COVID-19 and the civil unrest that we've faced in the past year, it's been difficult recruiting and retaining,â Chief Deputy Rocky Holcomb of the Virginia Beach Sheriffâs Office said.