ARLINGTON — An Arlington police officer is in the running for the title of the Washington state Veterans of Foreign Wars’ “Police Officer of the Year.”

Arlington Police Detective Sgt. Jonathon Ventura received the Arlington VFW Post 1561 “Police Officer of the Year” award from Post 1561 Cmdr. Bill Morse, who volunteers with the Arlington Police Department.

According to Morse, Arlington Police Cmdr. Terry Quintrall recommended Ventura for the award, and Arlington Police Chief Nelson Beazley set up an award ceremony in Ventura’s honor.

“He didn’t know about it at first, but when everyone else in the department found out that Ventura was going to receive the award, they all said he was an excellent choice,” said Morse, who presented a plaque and an award of $100 to Ventura, the latter of which Ventura donated to the Fraternal Order of Police’s annual “Shop with a Cop” program in Snohomish County, in the name of VFW Post 1561.

“I asked him if he planned on taking his wife to dinner with that money, and he laughed and said no,” said Morse, who nonetheless described Ventura as “a very, very strong family man. He’s got a daughter who’s just a little bitty thing, and he carries her around all the time. He’s just good people.”

Morse presented Ventura with his award even before learning that Ventura is also a U.S. Navy veteran who’s served in Iraq.

“Giving these awards is one of the great pleasures of my position,” Morse said. “We of the Post would also like to extend a sincere ‘Thank you for your service’ to Detective Sgt. Ventura.”

Ventura’s award has been forwarded to the state VFW and makes him a candidate for its state “Police Officer of the Year” award. Officers from outside the state are brought in to do the judging.