News Flash • Holland, MI

Holland First Responders free woman pinned by tree branch

Earlier today, at about 2:10 p.m., Firefighters and Police Officer of the Holland Department of Public Safety responded to the VanRaalte Farms Park, 500 Country Club Rd., for a report of a woman trapped by a tree branch. First responders located the victim, a 25 year old woman from Holland, partially submerged in the water having a tree branch pinning her leg to the ground. Her 25 year old boyfriend, also from Holland, was in the water assisting her.

The two had been sitting on a downed tree branch next to the river and upon getting up the branch rolled forward, knocked her over and then rolled onto her leg pinning her down. Firefighters used a chainsaw to cut the branch allowing first responders to lift it and free the woman.

Both the victim and her boyfriend were transported to Holland Hospital by AMR with non-life threatening injuries including the cold exposure due to the amount of time in the water.

Public Safety - Press Release

Posted on March 19, 2026

Holland Police Announce Sgt Israels as the 2026 Officer of the Year

The Holland Department of Public Safety- Police Services is pleased to announce Sgt Adam Israels as the HDPS 2026 Officer of the Year. Sgt Israels was selected by the HDPS command staff after he was nominated by his peers for this prestigious award. The nominations noted that he “strives for excellence and exhibits all the HDPS Core Values” as well as that he “is a hard worker and puts forth all his effort in whatever he does”. He was commended for resurrecting and organizing the annual “Battle of the Badges” Police vs. Fire charity softball game which has raised over $40,000 for various charities in the past several years.

Sgt Israels started his career with the HDPS in 2010 as a Police Cadet. In 2013, after graduating from the GVSU Police Academy, he was hired as a police officer. He was promoted to the rank of Police Sergeant in 2022.

Sgt Israels has been a valuable member of the organization for many years. He has been an Honor Guard member, a Field Training Officer as well as a Field Training supervisor, a member of the department Special Enforcement Team and the K9 unit supervisor.

Please join us in congratulating Police Sgt Israels on this well-deserved honor.

Public Safety - Press Release

Posted on February 04, 2026

Traffic Fatality in Holland

The Holland Department of Public Safety is investigating a traffic fatality which occurred yesterday evening around 7:20 p.m.

Officers and firefighters of the HDPS were dispatched to the intersection of State St. and 22^nd St. in Holland for a report of a pedestrian who had been struck by a vehicle. Based on the initial investigation and witness statements, the victim was riding an E-bike northbound on State St. when he crashed into a residential trash bin which had been placed near the curb. This impact caused the victim to fall into the roadway. Witness stated he was slow getting up and was attempting to get back on the E-bike, while he was still in the roadway, when he was struck by a northbound Honda Odyssey.

Life saving measures were attempted at the scene by first responders. The victim was eventually transported to Holland Hospital where he passed due to the injuries.

The driver of the Honda, a 34 year old Holland man, did not appear to be impaired and witnesses stated the Honda did not appear to be speeding prior to the crash.

The victim is identified as 67-year-old Daniel Eugene Woods of Holland.

The HDPS was assisted on scene by AMR. The crash remains under investigation.

Public Safety - Press Release

Posted on December 10, 2025