Dec. 9, 2024 marked a significant milestone for Arlington County Police Department’s 17 newest officers as Session 151 graduated from the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy. Family, friends and colleagues gathered to celebrate their achievements and watch as 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 the Department’s local and field training programs.

“It is my great pride to welcome Arlington’s newest officers as they embark on their successful law enforcement careers,” said Chief Andy Penn. “I am confident our newest officers will apply the training, skills and knowledge instilled in them throughout their rigorous academy and local training curriculum to make significant and positive impacts within the Arlington community.”

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 151 consists of 12 men and five women hailing from six different states. 15 officers hold higher education degrees, two officers are military veterans and five speak other languages including Spanish, Polish, Arabic and Tamil.

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

* Officer K. Jones was awarded Academic Excellence – 1st place

* Officer V. Baglio was awarded Excellence in Control Tactics, Guardian Award

Excellence in Firearms

* Officer Z. Ryder was awarded 1st place

* Officer D. Kiesnowski was awarded 2nd place

* Officer L. Zaconeta was awarded 3rd place

Excellence in Human Performance

* Officer S. Molloy was awarded 2nd place, Females

* Officer B. Nelson was awarded 2nd place, Males

* Officer K. Lucich was awarded 3rd place, Females

* Officer S. Molloy was the recipient of the prestigious Thomas L. Shaw award, one of the NVCJA’s highest honors. The award is named in honor of Thomas L. Shaw, a leader in the field of criminal justice training in the Northern Virginia region. For more than half of his 36-year career, from 1982-2000, Thomas Shaw served as the executive director of the NVCJA. The award recipient is selected by the basic training staff as the officer who they feel best exhibits the potential to meet the standards for professionalism, dedication and leadership set forth by Thomas Shaw during his career.

* Master Police Officer S. Brooks, who is currently assigned to the academy as an instructor, received the David Vice Award for Instructor Excellence in recognition of his compassion and commitment to training.

In addition to the officers who graduated on Dec. 9, Session 151 also includes one lateral officer who completed an accelerated academy class for lateral transfers. The lateral officer holds a higher education degree and previously served as a law enforcement officer in Florida.

About the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy

After being hired, 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.

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 a Career with ACPD

The Human Resources Management Section continuously recruits qualified applicants to join future academy sessions. The men and women of the Department work and live by a set of core values: courage, competence, commitment, compassion, restraint, respect, and integrity. A career as an Arlington County Police Officer comes with many benefits including a starting salary of $68,503.50, a hiring bonus of up to $25,000 and a 25-year retirement. Learn more by visiting ACPD.jobs.