Laurien Retires After 38 Years With WPD
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Laurien Retires After 38 Years With WPD
By John DeGroff-
Jerry Laurien, information officer for WPD, was treated to a retirement party by fellow officers, family, friends and local officials.
Laurien grew up in the Winona Lake area and graduated from Warsaw High School. He studied elementary education for two years in college, but law enforcement held more of an interest for him.
Laurien started with WPD in January 1970 as a patrol officer but left after one year to work with the Winona Lake Police Department. He was asked to return to the WPD by then Mayor Paul E. "Mike" Hodges in 1973. He graduated from the Police Academy when it was still part of Indiana University at Bloomington in 1974.
During Laurien's 25 years as an active duty officer, he served as the department's second juvenile officer, was a detective sergeant and was the department's first polygraph operator.
In 1998 he "retired" from the street but almost immediately was hired back on as a civilian employee, becoming the department's information officer.
"The biggest change I've seen over the years is the computerization of everything from the patrol cars to our records and file keeping," he said. "The biggest change for police work involves technology. Just today, I scanned my 12,000th file into the computer."
"Jerry was one of the first detectives I had the opportunity to work with when I was first hired by the department in 1997," said Police Chief Scott Whitaker. "I've had the opportunity to not only work with him as a detective, but also in administration over the last several years.
"Jerry's been a joy to work with and brings a great deal of knowledge to our staff and he'll be greatly missed. He a committed employee, and dedicated to the city of Warsaw. He's also something of a historian when it comes to Warsaw."
As for retirement plans, Laurien says he plans to spend it with family, friends and occasionally drop in on the department. He also has several trips planned.
"I have an officer friend of mine who lives in Switzerland," he said. "He's been wanting me to come visit over there. Who knows, could be a fun trip."[[In-content Ad]]
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Jerry Laurien, information officer for WPD, was treated to a retirement party by fellow officers, family, friends and local officials.
Laurien grew up in the Winona Lake area and graduated from Warsaw High School. He studied elementary education for two years in college, but law enforcement held more of an interest for him.
Laurien started with WPD in January 1970 as a patrol officer but left after one year to work with the Winona Lake Police Department. He was asked to return to the WPD by then Mayor Paul E. "Mike" Hodges in 1973. He graduated from the Police Academy when it was still part of Indiana University at Bloomington in 1974.
During Laurien's 25 years as an active duty officer, he served as the department's second juvenile officer, was a detective sergeant and was the department's first polygraph operator.
In 1998 he "retired" from the street but almost immediately was hired back on as a civilian employee, becoming the department's information officer.
"The biggest change I've seen over the years is the computerization of everything from the patrol cars to our records and file keeping," he said. "The biggest change for police work involves technology. Just today, I scanned my 12,000th file into the computer."
"Jerry was one of the first detectives I had the opportunity to work with when I was first hired by the department in 1997," said Police Chief Scott Whitaker. "I've had the opportunity to not only work with him as a detective, but also in administration over the last several years.
"Jerry's been a joy to work with and brings a great deal of knowledge to our staff and he'll be greatly missed. He a committed employee, and dedicated to the city of Warsaw. He's also something of a historian when it comes to Warsaw."
As for retirement plans, Laurien says he plans to spend it with family, friends and occasionally drop in on the department. He also has several trips planned.
"I have an officer friend of mine who lives in Switzerland," he said. "He's been wanting me to come visit over there. Who knows, could be a fun trip."[[In-content Ad]]
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