Five police officers received promotions and new badges in a ceremony Wednesday night in City Council chambers.

Sgt. Michael Wise was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, and Master Police Officer Gary Myrick, Detectives David Wellford and Herbert M. Bruce Jr. and Officer David Heroux were promoted to the rank of sergeant.

“You have all worked very hard to get to this point in your careers,” Chief Thomas Bennett said during the ceremony.

He offered them advice that included maintaining honesty and integrity, always giving their best and not being afraid of making the wrong decision.

To Lt. Wise, the chief dispensed some extra pressure.

“You are me at night when I’m home in bed,” Bennett told Wise. “What you do is going to greatly impact whether this police department succeeds or fails.”

Wise, as the ranking officer being promoted, made brief comments that included congratulating the new sergeants and thanking his family and the citizens of Suffolk for allowing him the opportunity to serve.

Wise joined the department in April 1999. He graduated from the Chesapeake Police Academy and was assigned to uniform patrol. He was promoted to master police officer in 2005 and to sergeant in 2007. In 2009, he moved to the Professional Standards Division as the sergeant in charge of accreditation, training and inspections.

He and his wife Kirsten have three children, Zoie, Zane and Peyton.

Myrick joined the department in October 1997 after graduating from the Chesapeake Police Academy. He was assigned to uniform patrol from March 1998 to March 2002, when he moved to the criminal investigations unit. He remains there today and has achieved numerous qualifications, including field training officer for patrol officers and detectives, evidence technician, alcohol enforcement specialist and cold case homicide investigator. He has also been two-time Officer of the Year. He and his wife Angela have two children, Kendall and Jasmine.

Bruce has been a member of the department for 10 years following 21 years with the U.S. Air Force. He spent three years in uniform patrol before being assigned to the detective bureau. He also has spent time with the department’s Marine Patrol. He now is assigned to Sector 2. He and his wife Joanne have two grown daughters and five grandchildren.

Wellford joined the department in November 2003 after a 20-year career in the U.S. Navy, where he achieved the rank of chief petty officer. He graduated from the Chesapeake Police Academy and was initially assigned to Sector 1. After one year, he was transferred to Sector 2. Three years later, he was selected for the Detective Bureau, where he has worked general assignment and economic crimes for four years. His qualifications include Intoxilyzer operator, field training officer, M-4 operator and general instructor. He and his wife Teresa have two grown sons, Nicholas and Christopher.

Heroux joined the department in February 2006 after retiring from a 24-year career in the U.S. Air Force. He graduated from the Hampton Roads Criminal Justice Training Academy and worked four year sin uniform patrol. He was selected as an inaugural member of the Special Operations Division’s traffic unit this year. His qualifications include field training officer, general instructor, evidence technician, breath operator and speed measurement operator. He and his wife, Cornelia, have been married for 29 years.