SUN PHOTO BY ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH, eallen@sun-herald.com

North Port Police Officer Mike Saxton's daughter Victoria, 13, pins her dad's new sergeant's badge on him Thursday during a promotion ceremony at City Hall. Saxton, 41, has been with the department since 1996. Police Chief Kevin Vespia, right, smiles at Saxton during the ceremony.

SUN PHOTO BY ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH, eallen@sun-herald.com
North Port Police Officer Mike Saxton's daughter Victoria, 13, pins her dad's new sergeant's badge on him Thursday during a promotion ceremony at City Hall. Saxton, 41, has been with the department since 1996. Police Chief Kevin Vespia, right, smiles at Saxton during the ceremony.

SUN PHOTO BY ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH, eallen@sun-herald.com
Barbara Stella pins a new captain's badge on her husband Tom, 45, Thursday during the promotion ceremony. Since 2000, Stella has been with the department as a patrolman, a field-training officer and a detective lieutenant, and is now the law enforcement division captain.

SUN PHOTO BY ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH, eallen@sun-herald.com
Scott Smith, 41, who has been an officer in North Port since 2006, has his lieutenant's badge pinned by his father, Robert, during the promotion ceremony. Smith has 16 years of experience in law enforcement.