Public Safety Director Caleb Rowell has been with the Bay City Department of Public Safety (BCDPS) since 1998. Director Rowell attended Oscoda High School and graduated from Saginaw Valley State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice in 1998. He attended the Northeastern Police Academy at Delta College in 1998 and then began working as a police officer for the Bay City Police Department.
Early in his career, he worked as a School Resource Officer for four years, a Field Training Officer (FTO), and a Civil Disorder Instructor. Director Rowell was promoted to the rank of Patrol Sergeant in 2008 at which time he was an FTO Supervisor, oversaw the Reserve Officer program, and chaired the Policy and Procedure Committee. In 2013, the Bay City Department of Public Safety was created, merging the Police Department and Fire Department into one combined Department of Public Safety. He attended the Bay County Fire Academy in 2013 and obtained Firefighter I and II certifications from the State of Michigan. In 2014, Director Rowell was promoted to the rank of Patrol Lieutenant and oversaw the operation of the Field Training Unit. In 2017, he earned certifications for Fire Company Officer I & II. He was promoted to the rank of Support Operations Captain in 2018 and transferred to Patrol Operations Captain in 2020, during this time he earned his Fire Officer III certification. He was then promoted to the rank of Deputy Public Safety Director in 2020 and appointed Public Safety Director in 2022.
He graduated from the FBI National Academy in 2021 and has remained a Trustee on the Bay City Public Safety Pension Board and became a board member for the Great Lakes Bay Region – Families Against Narcotics. Director Rowell serves as a 4H Volunteer Leader and coaches youth soccer.