The retired Deputy Chief from the Grosse Pointe Park Department of Public Safety begins his new job in Grosse Pointe Shores today as the city's newest Director of Public Safety.

Sworn-in Thursday night, Schulte said he is excited to be joining the Shores, returning to public safety work and is looking forward to working with the new council.

"From the moment I left I wanted to get back to public safety," he said. "It's natural for me. I was very fortunate. I was offered an opportunity to retire."

He did not really want to retire but the opportunity was one he felt he could not refuse, he said. He has already been transitioning into the position with the help of retiring director Stephen Poloni, who is now the Director of Public Safety in the City of Grosse Pointe.

Schulte took oath from Mayor Ted Kedzierski in a few minutes inside the council chambers. Council members Bob Barrette, Kay Felt and Dan Schulte, who is of no relation to John Schulte, witnessed the swearing-in. Additionally, resident Harry Kurtz attended the brief ceremony along with Gary Mitchell and his wife. Mitchell is one of the former Director of Public Safety from the Shores. 

Schulte's wife, Colleen also attended the ceremony.

He retired from the Park's Deparment of Public Safety in April 2010 after 32 years. He began as a patrolman and worked his way to the Deputy Director position and spear-headed a variety of programs during that time.

Schulte says he's looking forward to working with officers he's worked with a bit in the past and is thrilled to be working in the Grosse Pointes. During retirement, Schulte said he received offers to pursue policing jobs elsewhere but he declined because his preference was to remain in the Grosse Pointes.

He did some investigation work for a major automotive supplier during his brief retirement, he said.

Negotiations related to his contract came to a close this week leading to the swearing-in ceremony Thursday. The contract was altered from its original offer of a three-year term to a one year term that will automatically renew unless the city alerts him beforehand.

The $70,000 contract calls for Schulte to receive no overtime, to receive a police vehicle that he is to use for duties of his new job and excludes him from receiving health and retirement benefits.