DEPUTY CHIEF OF POLICE - CHARLES WHITMER

Charles Whitmer

Charles M Whitmer was promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief of the Gretna Police Department on July 1, 2005. He oversees the day-to-day operations of the Gretna Police Department which currently consists of over 100 full-time police officers and administrative staff as well as approximately 50 Reserve police officers.

He was born in Butler, Pennsylvania in 1955. Deputy Chief Whitmer began his career with the Gretna Police Department on May 1, 1977. He is a graduate of the first Gretna Police Department Training Academy on October 28, 1978. In July, 1979, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and served as assistant Watch Commander in the patrol division. On August 1, 1981, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, performing the duties of Watch Commander on a Patrol Team. In January, 1985, Deputy Chief Whitmer was assigned the duties of Director of Training and also assumed command of the Gretna Police Department Training Academy. On January 5,1990, he was again promoted to the rank of Captain and assumed the additional responsibilities of Patrol Division Commander.

Deputy Chief Whitmer graduated with honors from Delgado Community College in 1989 with an Associate of Arts degree in Criminal Justice. In April, 1989, he was assigned to attend the FBI National Academy for three months and graduated with a Criminal Justice Certificate awarded by the University of Virginia. He also completed a Bachelor of Criminal Justice degree at Loyola University in New Orleans in July, 1992. He is certified as a firearms instructor by the Louisiana Peace Officers Standards and Training Council. During his career with the Gretna Police Department, Deputy Chief Whitmer attended many law enforcement and related training courses. As a member of the Chief's staff, he continues to update his law enforcement training year after year.