GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The Grand Rapids Fire Department celebrated the retirement of a history-making member: Deputy Fire Chief Eric Freeman, who is the first African American deputy fire chief in the department’s history.
Freeman joined the department in 1991 and has held every rank on his way up through the operations department.
GRFD welcomes first black battalion chief
During Monday’s sendoff, over 150 friends, family, city officials and fellow firefighters attended. Every person News 8 spoke with sang Freeman’s praises and his long history of service to the city.
Sharing the moment was Freeman’s father, Norman Hobson, a 22-year member of the department…