East Lansing police Chief Louis Muhn remembers when he was first hired into the department by former police Chief Stephen Naert.

Naert, who became the city’s chief of police in 1972, died Monday at age 75.

“I remember he had a tremendous memory for names, one I truly envied,” Muhn said. “He was a resource for anyone in law enforcement.”

Naert came to the East Lansing Police Department in 1946 and moved up the ranks until he reached the level of police chief. He retired in 1981.

“He was very proud of the department,” Muhn said. “If he were here today he would have been proud of the number of officers that turned out for his funeral.”

Muhn said Naert recently served on a panel of retired officers during an in-service training.

“He just talked to the officers about how police work was done in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s,” he said. “He was very proud of the community and police department and has always been very supportive.”

Muhn said Naert helped inspire him to become chief himself.

“He cared a lot for his community and the people he supervised,” he said. “I was very fortunate to have worked for him.”

Linda Hoesl, Naert’s daughter, said he was well respected in the police department.

“When he started in 1946, there was just a chief, a lieutenant and four officers. He saw so many changes over the years,” she said. “He always spoke so highly of everyone he worked with.”

Hoesl, a Grand Ledge resident, said besides her father’s dedication to the police force he also was a dedicated family man who loved hunting and fishing.

“His children and grandchildren meant everything to him,” she said. “He was always there for us. He would make pizzas for family get togethers and took us camping.”

Jack Patriarche, East Lansing city manager from 1948 to 1976, worked with Naert and even hired him as police chief.

Patriarche said of the 75 applications they received for chief that year Naert was the best for the job.

“He was a very docile person,” he said. “He met with people and they liked him. He could handle difficult situations by calming people down.

“All of the officers and city employees liked him, they knew him and all appreciated him.”