Lieutenant Paul Hoenige Freeland
(1933-2024)
Paul was born April 26, 1933, in Cincinnati, the only child born to railroad traffic manager Alfred H. and Gertrude (Hoenige) Freeland. He attended Withrow High School and graduated in 1951. After high school, he went to work as a laboratory technician in research and development at Procter and Gamble in Ivorydale.
Paul left P&G to enlist in the United States Army on December 27, 1951, where he was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division infantry and shipped out in August 1952 for a year of combat in the Eastern Korean sector. Sergeant Freeland returned home with over two thousand men on July 17, 1953 and was assigned to a heavy mortar company in Fort Lewis, Washington, where he was twice more promoted. Sergeant First Class Freeland was honorably discharged, December 13, 1954, with United Nations and Korean Service Medals, Combat Infantry Badge, and two bronze stars.
He returned to Procter and Gamble and enrolled in the University of Cincinnati, majoring in Trigonometry and Algebra, and continued there through 1956. On June 2, 1956, he married Sue Carol Rees.
On September 24, 1956, Paul joined Amberly Village as a Patrolman. A year later, Paul joined 43 other men in the Cincinnati Police Division in the 34th Recruit Class on September 9, 1957. He graduated first in his class, was issued Badge 443, and assigned to District 1 (310 Lincoln Park Drive). A year later, Patrolman Freeland was rotated to District 4 (7017 Vine Street. He was rotated again in another year to District 5 (1012 Ludlow Avenue). In 1961 Patrolman Freeland was selected to attend the highly touted “Homicide Seminar” at the Kettering Labs of the University of Cincinnati. He earned an associate degree in the science of commerce in June 1962 at Salmon P. Chase College School of Law.
On April 26, 1964, his 31st birthday, he was promoted to Sergeant, issued Badge S-44 and reassigned to District 1. Sergeant Freeland was selected to attend the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy in March of 1965. In near record time, on February 19, 1967, he was promoted again to Lieutenant, issued Badge L-19, and reassigned to District 5. Six months later, Lieutenant Freeland was transferred to the Identification Section (City Hall) and a year later to the Homicide Squad in the Crime Bureau. During February 1971, the newly appointed police chief reorganized the Division to include an Investigations Bureau commanded by an assistant chief, within which was Criminal Investigation Section commanded by a captain. On March 7. 1971, Lieutenant Freeland was appointed Acting Criminal Investigation Section Commander. In October 1971, he was transferred to headquarters to be the chief’s administrative assistant. By December 1971, he was back as acting chief of detectives. In June 1974, Lieutenant Freeland went to Washington DC to be trained by the Secret Service in Dignitary Protection. In September 1974, he oversaw the investigation and rescue in the Allison Meachem kidnapping. Lieutenant Freeland transferred to District 3 (3201 Warsaw Avenue) on October 27, 1974. About 1½ years later, he was assigned as Administrative Assistant to another Police Chief. On February 24, 1980, he was assigned as Intelligence Section Commander. Lieutenant Freeland earned outstanding performance ratings for the last 27 years of his career. On August 24, 1984, he was among twelve officers cited by United States Attorney James Cissell for the destruction of an $80 Million international drug smuggling case.
Lieutenant Freeland retired on May 7, 1988 with almost 35 years of service to his country and community and 26 letters of appreciation and/or commendation, including two from police chiefs, two from safety directors, and one each from an Indianapolis police chief, the Fraternal Order of Police attorney, and a United States Attorney.
Lieutenant Freeland then went to work for the National Football League conducting internal investigations. He also served Christ Lutheran Church, variously, as Chairman, Elder, and Board member of Little Bud Preschool. He was also a Mason and earned the 33rd Degree in the Scottish Rite.
Lieutenant Freeland suffered for years with kidney failure and stoically accepted the fact that, for the rest of his life, he would require dialysis three times a week. But, on May 22, 2024, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer. Lieutenant Freeland died while under hospice care on June 12, 2024 at the age of 91.
We believe he is survived by his wife of 62 years, Sue Carol (Rees) Freeland, sons, Steven (Anita) Freeland and Gregg Freeland; grandchildren, Joshua (Ashley) Freeland, Jacob (Ashley) Freeland, Alexis (David) Monnin, and Jordan Freeland; and seven great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, June 17, 2024, at the Christ Lutheran Church, 3301 Compton Road, Colerain Township. An FOP service will be held at 10:45 a.m., followed by a funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Burial will take place at noon at the Arlington Memorial Gardens, 2145 Compton Road, in Springfield Township. A luncheon will follow burial back at Christ Lutheran Church.
Memorials can be made to Christ Lutheran Church, 3301 Compton Road, Cincinnati, OH 45251.
© 2024 – All rights reserved to LT Stephen R. Kramer RET and the Greater Cincinnati Police Museum