There’s a new detective handling investigations at the Oakland County Sheriff’s substation in Oxford Township and his name is Shane Freiberg.
Although he’s new to the position, he’s no stranger to the community.
Freiberg worked as a road patrol deputy in the township for about three years and has lived in the village since 2002, so he has a good knowledge of both the people and this area.
He began working for the sheriff’s office in 1996 and spent most of his career on road patrol duty in communities that contract with the county.
‘I’ve pretty much worked them all, except Pontiac,? he said.
His longest stint was the eight years he spent as the school liaison officer at Stoney Creek High School in Rochester Hills.
Becoming a police officer wasn’t a lifelong dream for Freiberg. The profession caught his eye as a Milford High School student attending career day.
‘I had no idea what I was going to do,? he said. ‘I knew I was going to college, but I didn’t know for what.?
A chat with a sergeant from the sheriff’s office gave him the direction he was seeking.
After graduating from Milford in 1991, Freiberg attended Ferris State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 1995.
Police work is a tradition in some families, but in Freiberg’s he is the first and only cop.
‘I’m the black sheep of the family,? he said.
One of the aspects of law enforcement that Freiberg enjoys most is how quickly things can change from one minute to the next as calls come in and situations arise.
‘It’s not a routine job,? he said. ‘It’s not the same thing every day.?
When he’s not busy catching bad guys, Freiberg likes spending time with his wife of 19 years, Sarah, and two daughters, Grace and Leah, both of whom attend Oxford High School.
Freiberg replaces Det. Jason Louwaert, who’s staying in Oxford, but is now working road patrol on the afternoon shift.