Portage police Lt. Cliff Burch and his son, Portage patrol officer Chris Burch, joke they could almost swap "C. Burch"-embroidered uniform shirts if they wore the same size.

"I've had a few more donuts," said a laughing Cliff Burch, patting his stomach.

Father and son police officers working on the same department are not uncommon in Portage.

"At one time we had three father-and-son teams," Cliff Burch said.

Right now Burch, a 22-year veteran, and his son, who was sworn in two years ago, are the only father-and-son team to hold that distinction in Portage.

Cliff Burch, who was police chief at the time of his son's swearing-in, said he was extremely proud his son had chosen to follow in his career path since it's a job he knows isn't always that easy.

"Seeing me in uniform all through his childhood ... it's a respectable career and seeing you can really make a difference on a daily basis. You can touch a lot of people's lives in our type of work," he said.

Although the Portage department is one of the few with both men serving on the same force, there are countless examples throughout the region in which sons have chosen to follow in their fathers' footsteps.

Tim Wardrip, a 29-year veteran of the Merrillville Police Department, now serves as executive director for the Northwest Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Gary. His son, Nicholas Wardrip, 26, works as a Hobart patrol officer.

"It does make you feel proud that your son wanted to follow in your footsteps," Tim Wardrip said.

The younger Wardrip said he knew as early as middle school that he wanted to become a police officer like his dad.

"I just always looked up to my dad and thought his career was both honorable and exciting. I've been around it my whole life," he said.

Tim Wardrip said initially, when his son broached the idea, he tried to dissuade him.

"I discouraged him at first because I know there's a lot of negatives that go along with a career in law enforcement, including the fact that the pay isn't that good. ... Once I understood he had his mind made up I encouraged him to stay in school," he said.

Wardrip said he should have known his son was destined to become a police officer when the first call on a take-your-son-to-work day was a rather gruesome death investigation involving a woman.

"I just thought it was interesting," Nicholas Wardrip said.

Hobart Mayor Brian Snedecor, like Burch, was serving as Hobart's police chief when his son, Ryan Snedecor, was sworn into the department four years ago.

"Originally he had looked into pursuing a career in education, but when he was about 19 he came to me and said he had a change in his career ambitions and wanted to follow in my footsteps. I was extremely honored," Brian Snedecor said.

Ryan Snedecor, 26, said he remembers even as a youngster watching his dad in his many roles as a police officer, including as a detective and heading the canine unit.

"Growing up it was the coolest thing," he said.

Lowell Police Chief John Shelhart, a former longtime Merrillville police officer and chief, said his son, Scott Shelhart, has worked for the Lake County Sheriff's Department since Sept. 15.

Prior to that, his son served in Iraq with the National Guard, a stint that earned him a Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

And Shelhart likes to believe he had an influence on his son's choices in life, including the one to become a police officer.

"When your son follows in your footsteps, it's a different relationship. Not only do you have the father-son relationship, but the professional relationship as well. It's very interesting. We talk shop. We talk all the time," he said.

Lansing Police Chief Dan McDevitt said like Portage, Lansing also has had a longtime tradition of police officers from two, and even sometimes three, generations of police from the same family.

He said he believes the desire to become a public servant just runs in some families.

"It's a desire to help people," McDevitt said.