New Arlington police officers graduated from the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy on Dec. 11, 2023. Three men and two women hail from five different states. 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.
“Their graduation from the Academy represents months of hard work and rigorous training to develop the foundational skills and knowledge necessary to be successful patrol officers,” said Chief Andy Penn.
The Arlington County Police Department is committed to recruiting individuals from all backgrounds who possess the necessary qualifications to serve Arlington’s diverse and inclusive community. All five officers hold higher education degrees, including two with advanced degrees. Three officers are military veterans.
The new officers were recognized with the following achievements at graduation:
• Officer E. Patel was awarded Academic Excellence – 3rd Place
• Officer M. Monzingo was awarded Excellence in Physical Fitness, 1st Place – Males
• Following an initial four-way tie for 1st place in Excellence in Firearms among the graduates, the Academy held a marksmanship tiebreaker resulting in the following awards:
• Officer M. Mozingo was awarded Excellence in Firearms, 2nd Place
• Officer M. Landicho was awarded Excellence in Firearms, 3rd Place
In addition to the officers who graduated on Dec. 11, Session 149 also includes two lateral officers who completed an accelerated academy class for lateral transfers. The lateral officers hail from Pennsylvania and Florida, both hold higher education degrees and one served in the military.