Detroit Native Retires After 25 Years of Service with State Police
Contact: Ms. Michelle Briggs, MSP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, (517) 241-0528Agency: State Police
LANSING. Michigan State Police (MSP) Director Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue is pleased to announce the retirement of Capt. Harold J. Love effective Aug. 31, 2013, after 25 years of service. Love serves as commander of the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division (CVED), where he is responsible for providing leadership and administrative oversight of the department's statewide commercial vehicle enforcement operations and special programs. He also serves as an appointed commissioner on the Governor's Traffic Safety Advisory Commission and the Michigan Truck Safety Commission.
Love began his career with the MSP in 1988, graduating as a member of the 104th Trooper Recruit School. During his 25-year career, he has served at the Niles, Detroit, Paw Paw, Metro North, Groveland and Adrian posts, as well as the Fire Marshal Division, Training Division, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division, Second District Headquarters and CVED.
Throughout his career, Love served in a range of positions. As a trooper he served as the youth services coordinator, criminal sexual conduct special investigator and an academy instructor; as a sergeant he served as desk/field supervisor, detective, origin and cause fire investigator and supervisor of the Motor Unit; as a lieutenant he served as commander of the Motor Unit and assistant post commander; as a first lieutenant he served as post commander and section commander and as a captain he served as a district and division commander.
Love has served both as incident commander and public information officer for numerous critical incidents, high-profile investigations and special events. He also received several awards and special recognitions during his career. In 2005, he received two legislative special tributes and a Professional Excellence Award for his leadership role on the team of commanders deployed with the Michigan contingent of 95 officers to New Orleans for the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.
Love was involved in every community he has served in, working to promote trust and synergy between the MSP and members of the community, public and private sector organizations and other law enforcement agencies. He was known for his welcoming spirit and calm disposition when dealing with the media and citizens during crisis and high-profile incidents.
Love's law enforcement associations and affiliations include the Advocates and Leaders for Police and Community Trust, Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, International Association of Chiefs of Police, International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Law Enforcement Alliance Peer Support, Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives and Southeast Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police.
Love graduated from Cass Technical High School in Detroit in 1982. He attended Tuskegee University and Wayne County Community College before earning a bachelor's degree in public safety studies from Siena Heights University (SHU). He will complete graduate school in the fall of 2013 with a master's degree in community counseling from SHU.
Love resides in Clarkston with his wife and two children. He and his family attend the Apostolic Church of Auburn Hills, where he is actively involved in several ministries including choir and praise team.
