(La Porte, IN) - The La Porte Police Department is back to full strength. It’s been years since there have been 44 officers in the city, according to LaPorte Mayor Tom Dermody.

During Tuesday's Board of Public Works and Safety meeting, Mayor Dermody said the numbers were restored from 31 officers in just over a year. He credited Police Chief Paul Brettin and other members of his administration for the additional officers. Dermody made law enforcement one of his top priorities and found the dollars needed to hire the additional officers.

The latest to join the department, Taylor Atkinson, was sworn into his patrol officer position yesterday.