New Police Lieutenant for Pleasantville [VIDEO]

Members of the  gathered at Monday evening in support of Erik Grutzner, an 18-year member of the department.

Grutzner, currently a sergeant in the department, was promoted to lieutenant and sworn into office.

Mayor Peter Scherer said he was happy to see "a longstanding member of the police department who has worked his way through the ranks from patrolman to sergeant and now to lieutenant" earning a promotion.

Grutzner's new position officially begins on Monday, April 16. He will have an annual salary of $125,456. Current Lieutenant Michael Wilson will retire effective Friday, April 13.

"I want to personally thank [Wilson] for his dedication to this community, the department and for demonstrating and instilling the knowledge and commitment required to deliver the excellent services our residents deserve and expect," said Chief of Police Richard Love.

The police department is currently made up of one chief, one lieutenant, four sergeants, two detectives and 11 patrol officers, Love said.

Monday's promotion was the latest in a series of personnel changes for the department—including the hiring of Police Officers and and the promotion of to sergeant.

The proposed village budget for 2012-13 also has an opening for an additional police sergeant to replace Grutzner at a salary of $105,273.

"It's a very humbling and wonderful experience," Grutzner said of the promotion and his colleagues who came to support him. "I'm very lucky to have worked in this village, made some of the friendships within and outside of the department that I look forward to continuing that in the future."