Freeman sworn in as public safety director

Renee Freeman, recently named director of Public Safety at Grand Valley State University, was sworn in by President Thomas J. Haas September 30 at the Alumni House on the Allendale Campus.

As part of the ceremony, Freeman chose to have her son, Seth, pin her badge on her chest, and Jeff Hawke, director of the Grand Haven Department of Public Safety, pin her collar brass on each lapel.

“I am very excited for this new opportunity,” said Freeman. “I feel blessed and privileged to be here and I look forward to working with the department and the students, faculty and staff at Grand Valley.”

Freeman is a local law enforcement veteran and Grand Valley alumna. She worked for the Grand Haven Department of Public Safety for 27 years, working her way up from an officer position to lieutenant. Freeman was with the Police Academy at Grand Valley for 14 years working as an adjunct faculty member; she also served for one year as assistant director of the academy.

Freeman is also certified as a fire officer from the Michigan Office of Firefighter Training and as a medical first responder from the Michigan Department of Community Health. She received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Grand Valley in 2004.