The Big Rapids City Commission and the Department of Public Safety are welcoming a new police officer to Big Rapids. Tyler Hanes was sworn in as a full time DPS police officer at the Commission meeting on Monday and Public Safety Director Jim Eddinger says Hanes is no stranger to Big Rapids.

“Tyler worked for the Mecosta County Sheriff's Office from 2009 to 1016 and he started with us on June 6, 2016 as a part-time officer.”

Hanes is originally from Grand Rapids and enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2004 where he served in Iraq, Africa, and Italy. He also graduated from Ferris State University in 2009 with a Bachelor's degree in criminal justice.