ARLINGTON — The City Council Chambers were filled excitement Dec. 1 when five city police officers got promoted to sergeant. The police officers’ families filled the room and each wife enjoyed the honor of pinning on their husband’s new badges after they were sworn in by acting police chief Terry Quintrall.

Dan Cone’s wife and three kids were present as were Mark Pennington’s wife and five kids, Kay Schander’s wife and two kids, and Jon Ventura’s new wife.

Jon Ventura explained to a curious audience the reason he changed his name recently; he gave up his adopted name when he got married, he said.

The elder on staff, Sergeant Ed Erlandson proudly introduced the five police officers and their vast range of experience. Cone, Pennington and Ventura all have nine years experience with the Arlington police force; Schander has 10 years under his belt and Mike Keating has been with APD for 21 years, Erlandson said.

They all have similar but different experiences, working as patrol officers as well as other specialties, like Cone, who also was a collision investigator, Keating served as firearms range master and field training officer, as well as being a pastoral minister and Pennington, who along with patrol, also served in field training. Schander has served on the alert team, the defensive task force and has agreed to stay on working with registered sex offenders, Erlandson said.

Erlandson gave the new sergeants a word of advice: “Be fantastic listeners and strive for excellence,” he said. “Be humble, remember the team and apologize if you wrong someone.”

He noted the trait of humility was common among all the candidates already.

Erlandson told the council that the process for these promotions was long and extensive. Erlandson was at the podium again the next night, as a candidate for police chief, one of six finalists in the selection process.