La Porte High School Graduate Paul Brettin has grown greatly in the City of La Porte. Since January 2020, Brettin has served as police chief, but his roots in the La Porte Police Department extend much deeper than that.
The police department caught Brettin’s attention in 1994. He began in July of that year after previously working in construction for his father’s business. After seeing some familiar faces and learning more about how officers serve the La Porte community, Brettin knew an immediate career path change was upon him.
“All police officers want to do is their job, and when I came into this, that’s exactly what I wanted to do,” Brettin said.
Motivated, Brettin worked his way to the position he is in today: La Porte’s police chief of 27 years. He dabbled in a variety of departments on his journey, obtaining other titles, too.
“I rose through the ranks. I was a corporal, I was a sergeant, then a captain; one time I was chief of detectives under another chief,” said Brettin.
Brettin spent five years in the detective bureau after becoming a sergeant. His favorite work he’s done, though, has been with street-level drugs and in a specialized unit that worked exclusively at night – referred to as the “power shift” that operated under another chief.
“The ‘power shift’ went on for several years where we worked all the hotspots and went directly to where the problems were,” Brettin said.
Currently in his role as police chief, Brettin oversees the entire department and organizes the budget, meetings, and programs, among his many other responsibilities.
Brettin also discussed how acquiring his position right before the COVID-19 outbreak did impact his operations, but it is something that he is proud and relieved to say he has overcome.
“It’s been challenging with several things that were thrown our way that could have never been foreseen, but it’s been rewarding as well,” said Brettin.
His main goal as chief has been to improve the department in any way that he can during his time in leadership. Ahead of his future retirement, Brettin wants to ensure that his fellow officers and community members are left with a department that has grown and improved since the day he started.
“If I can do just a few things and make the other officer’s jobs easier and more satisfying, then I’ve done my job,” Brettin said.
With the help of the City of La Porte and its administration, Brettin has been able to make measurable progress within the department. With police cars being replaced, a new generator for the station on the way, and an increase in community engagement over the years, he thanked La Porte for helping him to make it all possible.
“We’re getting into community outreach programs, too, and I think that’s the biggest thing,” said Brettin. “The backing of the city administration has been tremendous.”
He also thanks all of his fellow first responders for all that they do, as well as their continuous commitment.
“The men and women of this department make it. The citizens of La Porte are lucky to have them,” said Brettin. “I tell them that as often as I can.”
Brettin is also grateful for all of the kind words he’s received from citizens in the area, and he wants them to know all their positive comments do get passed on.
“I try to let all the officers know all the positive things I hear about them, and that’s on the spot – it’s them,” Brettin said. “It’s so great when the public recognizes the officers. I love seeing that, and they really appreciate it.”
Moments of free time are far and few between for Chief Brettin, but when he is not at the station, he is golfing, riding four-wheelers, snowmobiling, or keeping up with his love of construction.
Brettin continues to complete construction projects on the side, and his most recent renovation was his oldest son’s house.
“I’m renovating a house for my oldest son right now that he is about to move into. It’s been a long nine months, but we’re almost there,” Brettin said.
Inside and outside of the station, Brettin believes in lending everyone an ear and encourages others to simply be listeners in order to grow as a society.
“Everyone brings something to the table; you’ve got to look at every perspective and take everyone’s ideas and weigh them in."