On December 15, 2025, eleven new officers from Session 153 graduated from the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy, joining the Arlington County Police Department. The graduation ceremony took place with the presence of family, friends, and colleagues as the officers took their oath to serve the community and uphold constitutional rights.
Chief Andy Penn stated, “With great pride, we welcome Arlington County Police Department’s newest officers as they embark on their law enforcement careers and build upon our agency’s longstanding legacy of excellence in policing. Through their rigorous training and demonstrated professionalism and integrity, each member of Session 153 has earned their badge, symbolizing their commitment to serving and protecting the Arlington community. I am confident their training at the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy, coupled with our department’s comprehensive pre- and post-academy training curriculum, will serve as an important foundation for the high-quality service each have been entrusted to provide.”
The new group consists of seven men and four women who come from eight states, the District of Columbia, and Canada. All hold higher education degrees; one is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Among them are speakers of Spanish, Nepali, Urdu, and German.
Several graduates were recognized for outstanding performance: Officer Q. Lodholz placed second in Academic Excellence; Officer C. Jewell and Officer C. Norris took first and second place in Excellence in Firearms; Officer N. Bohraus was awarded first place in Human Performance (female), with Officer Q. Lodholz taking second (female) and Officer J. Garritano placing third (male).
The Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy provides over 800 hours of basic instruction to prepare recruits for various challenges faced by law enforcement personnel in Northern Virginia agencies.
Following graduation, new officers enter a 12-week Field Training Program where they work alongside experienced Field Training Officers before starting solo patrol duties.
Arlington County continues to recruit qualified candidates for future academy sessions to serve its diverse urban population through community policing efforts focused on crime prevention, transportation safety, community engagement, employee wellness, and safety.
In related demographic context about Arlington County schools during the 2023-24 school year:
Arlington County Public Schools enrolled 27,536 students according to data from the Virginia Department of Education. Washington Liberty High School had the highest enrollment among county schools with 2,904 students (source). White students represented the largest ethnic group at 41.9%, followed by Hispanic students at 30.3% (source). Overall enrollment saw a slight decrease compared to the previous year (source). Montessori Public School of Arlington enrolled the largest number of pre-kindergarten students among county schools (source).
For more information about beginning a career with Arlington County Police Department or details about its training programs, visit joinarlingtoncountypd.com.
