Escanaba Promotes Captain Darren Smith To Public Safety Director

The City of Escanaba has named a new Public Safety Director.

He’s Darren Smith, who had worked his way up to captain. The city announced on Friday that Smith will replace John Gudwer, who is retiring at the end of this month. Gudwer plans to stay in the area and will take a job with the Escanaba Area Public Schools.

Meanwhile, Smith has a 23-year career in law enforcement, having started out with the Schoolcraft County Sheriff’s Department and Manistique Public Safety. He has been in Escanaba since 2006, gradually moving up the ranks. Smith will officially take over on September 2^nd.