Fraser welcomes new director of public safety

FRASER — The city of Fraser is welcoming a new director of public safety after months of filling the position with interim directors.

Samantha Kretzschmar will take over the position of director being in charge of the city’s police and fire services.

“She was selected at our special meeting on Aug. 4, subject to pre-employment testing,” Fraser City Manager Elaine Leven explained in an email. “The planned start date is Sept. 12.”

Kretzschmar said she was looking forward to taking up the role and believes she has ample experience to serve the residents of Fraser in that capacity.

“I came from Hazel Park. I worked in the city of Oak Park and worked my way up from patrol to becoming a detective and sergeant,” she said. “I served on their special response team. I was promoted to lieutenant in patrol and then was made in charge of the investigations unit. I recently retired after 28 years. I was looking to move on to bigger and better things, and Fraser posted that they were looking for a new director, so the timing was perfect.”

The selection of a director of public safety is decided by the City Council.

“City Council is responsible for the appointment of the Director of Public Safety. A subcommittee worked with administration on the preliminary steps for candidate selection,” wrote Leven. “Four candidates were interviewed for the position, one of which was internal, Sgt. Eric Myers. This was the last vacant department head position left for Council to fill since my hiring. I think she will be a great addition to the team and have confidence that she will excel in this position.”

Kretzschmar remarked that she is happy to be entering her new role.

“I’ve always liked Fraser. It’s a nice community,” said Kretzschmar. “They haven’t had anyone who had been appointed to the position of director for some time. They have had a lot of interim directors who had to split their time with their normal duties. I’m hoping to provide some stability in the department and make sure the department is as good as it can be. They have a great department, and I am looking forward to seeing what is working and what might be improved.”

She added that her primary priorities as director of public safety will be assessing the department to see what is working and what could be improved.

“I’m not looking to make huge changes. I’m just looking to serve the community and see if there are any changes that would serve the public better, maintain what is already working and uphold the law.”

Kretzschmar said she hopes to hold the position for a long while and hopes to be in the role of director of public safety long enough to help build the city up.

“I’m up for the task,” shes said. “So as long as I feel like I’m doing a good job and the city’s leadership feels I am doing a good job, I hope to be here for the long haul. I want to make as much out of my time here as possible.”