In a short but heartfelt ceremony Monday, Edgartown police officer James (Jamie) Craig was promoted to sergeant.

A nearly 30-year veteran of the force who has served two overseas tours of duty with the Navy, Sergeant Craig is also a fifth-generation Islander and a second-generation police officer. He is commander of the Island’s SWAT team, the department’s official instructor for the Massachusetts criminal justice training classes, and the department’s unofficial guest lecturer for pretty much anything else.

Promotion earns a hug from son Riley, soon to join the U.S. Marine Corps. — Noah Asimow

On Monday Edgartown police chief Bruce McNamee described the comprehensive, grueling promotion process he undertook beginning in January for officers in his department.

“It was very comprehensive, and we probably took the worst elements out of every promotional process I’ve ever dealt with and subjected these officers to it,” Chief McNamee, who took the job 11 months ago, told the selectmen.

He described a written examination that took months of study, an assessment center that involved role-player based scenarios and a review board of several off-Island police chiefs.

“I’m sure we couldn’t think of anything worse for these guys,” Chief McNamee said. “At the end of that process, Jamie Craig came out in first place.”

In light of officer Craig’s performance during the review process, and his distinctions both inside and outside of the department, the Edgartown selectmen made a motion to give officer Craig his long-earned stripes.

“I’m very appreciative of the process we have in place now,” selectman Arthur Smadbeck said. “I think it’s a credit to Jamie and the Edgartown police department. It is my pleasure to make a motion to endorse Jamie to sergeant.”

Other officers from the department packed the town hall meeting room to watch as their longtime colleague and compatriot received his new badge. After swearing with all his heart to fairly and justly execute the laws of the commonwealth and the United States of America, sergeant Craig embraced his 18-year-old son Riley, who is home before he ships off to U.S. Marine Corps boot camp.

“You’re it,” selectman Margaret Serpa said. “Congratulations.”