ARLINGTON — Arlington Police Detective Mike Phillips is getting his 15 minutes of fame, and then some, for his role in investigating a complex robbery in which all eight suspects were arrested within two days.

On March 1, Phillips was named the Washington state Officer of the Month for February by the “Washington’s Most Wanted” television show, which airs Fridays and Saturdays at 10:30 p.m. on Q13 FOX. Phillips was joined by Arlington Detective Sgt. Jonathan Ventura and Police Chief Nelson Beazley in meeting the program’s host and producers to accept the award.

Phillips is a 13-year veteran of the Arlington Police Department, currently assigned to the Investigations Unit working major crimes and crimes against children, whose past accomplishments include a life-saving commendation in 2008 and a Chief’s Award for being the most proactive police officer in 2007.

In addition to this distinguished career, Phillips received the Officer of the Month award for his contributions to the investigation of a Feb. 5 armed robbery and carjacking at the intersection of Interstate 5 and Highway 530 in Arlington. This investigation required Phillips to identify and locate eight individual suspects whom investigators believe had been on a multi-day drug-induced crime spree, covering multiple jurisdictions up and down the I-5 corridor, before the last suspect was apprehended on Feb. 7.

“Detective Phillips is one of our agency’s most dedicated employees,” Ventura said.

“We’re fortunate in Arlington to have enough activity to keep our detectives engaged and busy,” Phillips said. “But we’re also blessed in having the resources and support from our command staff, and the cooperation of our community, to solve nearly all of our most serious crimes.”