New Officers Graduate from Session 148 of Training Academy

Published on June 20, 2023

ARLINGTON, Va. – Friday, June 16, 2023, marked a significant milestone in the careers of Arlington County Police Department’s eight newest officers as Session 148 graduated from the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy. In front of family, friends and colleagues, the new officers took their solemn oath to serve and protect the Arlington community and safeguard the Constitutional rights of all. Graduation from the Academy is part of the new officers' journey to becoming solo police officers in Arlington County, a process that spans approximately one year. As part of their ongoing training cycle, the newly graduated officers will now complete local and field training programs.

“Graduation from the Academy is the culmination of months of rigorous training, and it was my honor to present each of our new officers with their badges, symbolizing their transition into the next phase of their training cycle,” said Chief Andy Penn. “As Session 148 embarks on their law enforcement careers in Arlington, they join the dedicated men and women of the Arlington County Police Department who share an unwavering commitment to the safety and security of our community. I am confident each of our new officers will continue our agency’s longstanding legacy of excellence in policing.”

The Arlington County Police Department is committed to recruiting individuals from all backgrounds who possess the necessary qualifications to serve our diverse and inclusive community. Session 148 reflects this commitment and consists of five men and three women. The class hails from five different states and one is a native Arlingtonian. Five officers hold higher education degrees, including two with advanced degrees and five officers are military veterans or reservists. Session 148 also includes an officer fluent in Russian.

The new officers were recognized with the following achievements at graduation:

• Officer R. Stroman was awarded the Director’s Award for Academic Excellence – 2^nd Place
• Officer R. Stroman was awarded Excellence in Physical Fitness, 1^st Place – Females
• Officer M. Hendrick was awarded Excellence in Physical Fitness, 2^nd Place – Females
• Officer Z. Johnson was awarded Excellence in Physical Fitness, 2^nd Place – Mens
• Officer R. Stroman was awarded Excellence in Firearms, 2^nd Place
• Officer Z. Johnson was awarded Excellence in Firearms, 3^rd Place
• Officer R. Stroman served as the class president and received the Thomas L. Shaw Award, one of NVCJA's highest honors. The award's namesake, Mr. Shaw, worked in criminal justice in the Northern Virginia region for 36 years, more than half of which was in service to NVCJA as the executive director from 1982-2000.  Officer R. Stroman was selected by NVCJA's Basic Training Staff as the officer who they feel best exhibits the potential to meet standards for professionalism, dedication and leadership, set forth by Mr. Shaw.

In addition to the eight officers who graduated on June 16, Session 148 also includes three lateral officers, two of which were previously Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services certified and one who completed an accelerated academy class for lateral transfers.

About the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy (NVCJA)

After being hired by the Department, the new officers began their training at the NVCJA, a regional academy offering high quality, professional training to recruit officers who will go on to serve agencies in Northern Virginia. New officers enrolled in the basic training program complete over 800 hours of training curriculum, which orients them to the diverse day-to-day challenges experienced by law enforcement personnel while on the job. In addition to basic training, NVCJA offers in-service training programs to officers throughout their careers.

More: Basic Training at the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy

What Comes Next for the New Officers

The new officers will now complete the Department’s 12-week Field Training Program. During field training, the officers work alongside a Field Training Officer, who is responsible for mentoring, teaching, and evaluating them as they begin to apply knowledge gained during basic training at the NVCJA to real world situations they encounter when responding to calls for service and engaging with the community. Following successful completion of field training, the officers begin solo patrol.

Starting Your Career with ACPD

The Human Resources Management Section recruits qualified applicants to join future academy sessions throughout the year. We serve a diverse, urban and engaged community, with an emphasis on community policing and problem solving in support of the four key initiatives: community engagement, transportation safety, crime prevention and control and employee wellness. The men and women of our Department work and live by a set of core values: courage, competence, commitment, compassion, restraint, respect, and integrity. Learn more and start your career today by visiting ACPD.jobs.