HUBBARD TOWNSHIP — After a months-long interview process, the township has its new police chief — one with a deep history in the community.

Trustees approved hiring Brenda Freeman as the township’s next police chief, effective June 24. She’s set to be sworn in at a later date.

Freeman, who spent 13 years with the township — 10 of which were fulltime — returns to the department after transitioning to the city’s police department during the township’s period of unease. While with the city, Freeman progressed to sergeant in May 2024.

The search involved 11 applicants, with 10 of them being local and two being internal candidates. Four were advanced for in-person interviews, and from there, two made it to the final interview.

Freeman said she is excited to return, recalling her previous time in the department.

“I’ve been here before, for a little over 13 years, and I’m excited to come back and you know, work alongside these officers,” Freeman said. “As well as the city and township collaborating together to make Hubbard better, keep it safe for the residents.”

“We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us, but I’m excited for this new journey,” she added.

Trustee Jason Tedrow, who serves as the trustee liaison for the police department, said he hopes Freeman’s connections to both areas will bode well down the road.

“She’s familiar with our department, as well as the city. I think we can have a good working relationship and continue that,” Tedrow said.

Trustee Bill Coletta wished Freeman luck, noting that while she’s young, she has a solid supporting cast of experienced officers backing her.

“She’s young, but I believe with the other officers, she will use their guidance and their years of service to assist her in things she might be unfamiliar with,” Colletta said. “I wish her the best of luck and hope everything works out for her.”

DONATING SICK LEAVE

Tedrow explained to trustees that they’ve had “a number of issues” in the past year with the amount of sick time clashing with officers’ needs.

He said that after talking to acting Chief Michael Orr and considering officers coming in at younger ages, someone suggested donating sick or vacation time, which was approved by trustees.

“I think it would be conducive to us to allow the officers to at least work with one another and help each other out if something happens for themselves or a family member and stuff like that,” Tedrow said. “I think it’s not any deficit to us, and it’s a benefit for them, and the fact that they can at least work together as a team; if someone’s in need, they can work together.”

Coletta asked Orr if the department had a similar policy in place in the past, because of one of their past officers, Mike Begeot, who retired in 2020.

“As far as I know, Begeot was in no need of sick time; he donated that,” Orr said.

Tedrow said he spoke to Begeot about it, who said there was no formal policy in place at the time.