(Jim Paul/Daily News photo) Director of Police and Fire Services Ed Mattson is retiring after 32 years with the Iron Mountain Police Department.

IRON MOUNTAIN — After more than 30 years with the Iron Mountain Police Department, including the past decade as director of Police and Fire Services, Ed Mattson is retiring.

Mattson, who is from Munising, said he never grew up wanting to be a police officer. He originally studied computer science at Northern Michigan University before he “took an introduction to criminal justice and was hooked,” Mattson said.

Mattson then attended the police academy, also at Northern.

Mattson said his main goal as a law enforcement officer was to help people and keep them safe.

Sitting back and listening was how Mattson described his style — he thought he could de-escalate most situations that way, he said.

The least-favorite part — and this is true for most of law enforcement — was whenever children were negatively affected, he said.

But Mattson said of the job overall, “In my career I have probably dealt with five or less truly bad, evil people. Other people just make mistakes or screw up.”

The biggest changes Mattson saw during his career were the ways technology came into play in law enforcement. When he started, the office had one computer, log books were handwritten and reports were made on a typewriter, he said.

Body cameras, Mattson said, have had a positive effect on law enforcement and Iron Mountain was among the area’s first police departments to have them.

“My predecessor was big on them,” Mattson said. “We love them; it shows what really goes on. I think a lot of people thought they were going to get the cops doing something wrong but most of the time the officer is being falsely accused of different things.”

Mattson thinks drones will be the next big thing in law enforcement, as common if not more so than canines.

While one of the busiest agencies in the area, the technology and all of the documentation that came with it is why Mattson believes crime rates appear to be up compared with 30 years ago. Narcotics have changed over the years and Mattson finds the fentanyl epidemic that exists all over the country especially troubling.

“I have known a lot of good people that have gotten into that problem, that went from using prescription narcotics prescribed by a doctor,” Mattson said.

Mattson is proud of his time as a school liaison officer, one of the first in the city. He started part-time in the position while still a patrol officer before assuming the role full-time for five years.

Later, Mattson served as a lieutenant for five years before becoming director.

Mattson thinks he is leaving the police and fire departments in a good place and in good hands. He said he will miss the people from both departments and other area law enforcement agencies.

Mattson said he is thankful for all who helped him through his career.

“The citizens of Iron Mountain, everybody has been good to me,” Mattson said. “Obviously my family — my wife, who has put up with a lot over the years, my daughter, son — and everybody I have worked with, I could not have done it without everybody else.”

Mattson’s family includes wife Ann Mattson, son E.J. Mattson and daughter Emma Rotter.

Mattson does not have any major plans yet for retirement, though he will work on maintenance at the business his daughter owns, Northern Discovery Preschool & Childcare, eight hours a week. Otherwise, he will focus on being a grandfather and house husband, he said.

Mattson’s final day will be today, one of the rare times he has worked the Independence Day holiday. He plans to ride in the Iron Mountain parade alongside his 3-year-old grandson, Paul.

Jeff Solka, deputy director of police services will be stepping into the director role.

Jim Paul can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 229, or jpaul@ironmountaindailynews.com.