(La Porte, IN) - The La Porte Police Department will have a new second in command.  Assistant Police Chief Nate Thode will no longer be in that position beginning on Monday.

Thode is becoming a supervisor during one of the patrol shifts while Captain Bill Degnegaard is moving up to Assistant Police Chief.  Police Chief Paul Brettin said the move was made because of enhancements in law enforcement services provided to the community.

Brettin said additional drug enforcement and community policing are among the efforts ramping up and Degnegaard has first-hand expertise in some of those areas.  “With his knowledge and experience I felt that was the way to go,” he said. 

Brettin also felt a need for a fresh perspective on matters.  “It’s a different set of eyes to look at things,” he said.  He said Degnegaard, who has been with the department for 21 years, is also a better fit for the Reserve Officer and Citizens Police Academy programs starting up again.  “Capt. Degnegaard has done all of that in the past. It’s going to be second nature for him,” Brettin said.

Thode, a 16-year member of the force, was named Assistant Police Chief when Brettin took over as chief about 18 months ago.