Three patrolmen received new titles within the Zanesville Police Department Wednesday afternoon.

The Zanesville Police Department welcomed its newest sergeant to afternoon shift, as well as two new detectives.

Sgt. Alan Etters, who has been with ZPD since May 2012, was promoted from a patrolman on midnight shift to a sergeant working afternoon shift. Etters was the next eligible patrolman qualified for the promotion as he took the required civil service testing in spring 2018.

There had previously been three promotions from the pool of officers that took the civil service testing, and Etters was the next in-line for a promotion.

“I’ve got more responsibilities,” Etters said. “I’m like the first line of management for the guys, so I need to make sure they’re out here doing what they need, but I also need to make sure they’re getting the stuff that they need. So, I’m kind of like the in-between, between the patrol and higher ups.”

Although his position is new, Etters said his goal is to continue moving up through the ranks in the department.

“I saw myself sitting in a higher position by the end of my career, and you’ve gotta start at the bottom of the ladder and work your way up,” he said.

Etters, who is one of four sergeants in the departments, will oversee 11 employees while also working the road during his shifts.

“It’s always nice to see the younger officers advancing in their career,” Zanesville Police Chief Tony Coury said. “We have seen a lot of advancement into the supervisory ranks in the last few years.”

Patrolmen Mark Brown and John McAlhany were also re-assigned from their current positions to the detective bureau. While the move is more lateral, as opposed to a promotion, the men were honored with a short ceremony.

“The pay is the same. There are some perks to being a detective, but they handle a lot of investigations, and we found it necessary that they be moved to that role,” Coury said.

Along with Etters’ promotion, Coury said the department is implementing a mentorship program for up-and-coming leaders in the department. For the next 12 months, Etters will be mentored by a lieutenant in order to help acclimate him to his new role.

Additionally, Etters will be enrolled in advanced leadership training.

In the past, Coury said there was not a mentorship program in place. Instead, those stepping into leadership roles were left to figure out their new role on their own.

“We don’t want to do that anymore. We want to prepare them as best we can and prepare them to make sure they have all the tools necessary to do their job,” Coury said. “Plus, we want to make sure that they’re advancing their career and getting them ready for the next level, whatever the next level may be for them.”

Gallery • 3 Photos

Mark Brown (left front) shakes Police Chief Tony Coury's (front right) hand as he's reassigned to ZPD's detective bureau. | photo submitted by Scott Comstock