ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) —

Sean Aardema has held many positions since joining the Asheville Police Department in 1999. On Friday, he celebrated another milestone. The second-generation officer was named deputy chief.

“Growing up, if anyone had asked me, ‘Are you going to be a police officer like your dad?’ I would have either laughed at them or said no,” he said while taking a break from moving into his new office.

But in college, Aardema took a criminal justice class because he needed another elective course.

“It’s around that time in your life you take a class and find that it comes to you kind of naturally,” he said.

Sean Aardema, a second-generation police officer at Asheville Police Department, was named deputy chief on Friday.
Sean Aardema was busy Monday moving into his new office after being named a deputy chief at Asheville Police Department.
Sean Aardema has been named deputy chief at Asheville Police Department.

Aardema has held various key positions within the department, including captain, lieutenant and sergeant, an Asheville Police Department news release said.

As captain, he oversaw the Patrol Division. As a lieutenant, he served as the Criminal Investigations and Professional Standards Section commander. Before becoming lieutenant, he served as the sergeant over the Major Crimes Unit and South Central Patrol Unit.

He has also contributed to the development of future law enforcement professionals as a Basic Law Enforcement Instructor within the department.

“Frankly, I didn’t anticipate turning up to be the deputy chief,” Aardema said. “I’m still stunned.”

He joins Deputy Chief Jacquelyn “Jackie” Stepp as Chief Mike Lamb’s top officers.

“I was thrilled to death to get the promotion to captain. When this opportunity presented itself, I thought, ‘I’ll try out for it,'” Aardema said. “I think that I can do some good things in this role. I want to be the best deputy chief that I can be.”

Aardema, an Asheville native and T.C. Roberson High School graduate, lives in Buncombe County with his wife of 20 years and his 8-year-old son.

He holds an associate of applied science degree in criminal justice from Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, the news release said. He is a graduate of the FBI-Law Enforcement Executive Development Association Trilogy Program.