The Oro Valley Police Department last week promoted the largest number of police ever at one time, said Liz Wright, department spokeswoman.
Nine officers received new ranks at a ceremony held Sept. 26 at Casas Church, 10801 N. La Cholla Blvd.
The department also added a new position, making former Cmdr. Larry Stevens the department's new deputy chief.
Stevens, 49, said that means he will fill in for Chief Danny Sharp whenever needed.
"I was excited by the challenge. A lot of responsibilities come with the position," he said. He has been a police officer for 25 years, 23 of them in Oro Valley. He worked the other two in Pinal County.
The large number of promotions is tied to this budget year, Sharp said.
Oro Valley's Town Council in July approved adding three new positions to the department — a deputy chief and two lieutenants — as part of the budget for the 2007-08 fiscal year.
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The Police Department's budget totaled $13.3 million, a $776,571 increase from the previous fiscal year.
Within that budget, the department's personnel costs increased by $779,745 from the previous fiscal year to nearly $10.3 million.
One of the nine promotions resulted from a retirement and the rest are backfilling positions left open from earlier promotions, Sharp said.
Who's who
• Who was promoted and the positions they were promoted to:
Larry Stevens deputy chief
Jason Larter commander
Aaron LeSuer commander
Curt Hicks lieutenant
John Teachout lieutenant
Kara Sickelbower lieutenant
Amy Graham sergeant
Matt Horetski sergeant
Carmen Trevizo sergeant
Names were provided by the Oro Valley Police Department
