TERRE HAUTE -- Indiana State University has selected a veteran law enforcement officer from Terre Haute to serve as its assistant police chief, ISU Police Chief Joseph Newport announced today.
Michele Barrett, currently a lieutenant with the Terre Haute Police Department, will begin her new role at Indiana State on Aug. 1.
\"What set Michele Barrett apart from others in a highly-qualified pool of candidates was her experience as an investigator. During her 20-plus years of policing, she has earned the respect of her peers, supervisors, the local judiciary, and the public. She will be a great asset to our department,\" Newport said.
Barrett has served in a variety of roles in the Terre Haute Police Department starting as a patrol officer in 1993. She has also worked as a detective investigating white collar crimes, criminal cases and juvenile cases.
In 2008, she was promoted to sergeant, first serving in the uniform division and then in the Violent Crimes Division where she managed the daily assignments of up to 15 detectives and coordinated all facets of crime scenes. For the past two years, she has been responsible for creating, implementing and reviewing Indiana Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission standards within the Terre Haute Police Department. She was recently promoted to lieutenant becoming the first woman to achieve that rank in the department\'s history.
Newport added that Barrett\'s administrative and management background in implementing new standards and coordinating communication between the police department, other agencies and individuals will also be beneficial, especially in addressing federal regulations and reporting requirements.
\"I am excited to start this new chapter in my law enforcement career and am honored to be doing it as a member of the ISU community,\" said Barrett.
A graduate of Purdue University, Barrett has been recognized with the United States Attorney Award for Excellence for collaborating with the FBI in solving 12 bank robberies throughout Indiana. She also has received numerous awards from the Terre Haute Police Department. Barrett was the first female member of the Special Response Team, a group of police officers that executes high-risk search and arrest warrants, and the first female sergeant to supervise the Violent Crimes Unit.