Brian T. Gensel has spent 18 years as a prosecutor, beginning as a juvenile court deputy prosecutor in 1988 under Prosecutor Daniel Berning and advancing through all levels of the office. In 1994 he was chosen to serve as Chief Deputy Prosecutor under Prosecutor James Douglas. Brian was elected prosecutor in 2006 and was, at that time the longest serving full-time deputy prosecutor in Porter County history.

Brian graduated from Purdue University in 1983 with a degree in Business Marketing and received his Juris Doctor degree from Valparaiso University School of Law in 1987. He is currently an Adjunct Professor of Law at Valparaiso University teaching Trial Advocacy. He also supervises law students in the Prosecutor’s Externship program and coaches the Valparaiso High School Mock Trial Team. He lived in Portage from 1988 to 1997 and has lived in Union Township since 1997 with his wife, Carleen and two sons Daniel and Nathaniel. He is also an elder at Calvary Church of Valparaiso.

During his tenure with the office, Brian has supervised the Porter County Narcotics Unit and has developed strong working relationships with all the various Porter County law enforcement agencies. He and his staff are regularly involved in training and educating police officers so that they can partner together to present the strongest possible case against criminals.

Over the past 18 years Brian has developed the following philosophy regarding the role of the Prosecutor:

“Prosecutors are unique among lawyers in that we are ethically bound to seek justice. Sometimes justice is best fulfilled by vigorous prosecution and seeking maximum sentence upon conviction. Sometimes it means fashioning a plea agreement that allows for both sanction and rehabilitation. A Prosecutor must know the difference between what he can do and what he should do.”