Alex Freeman
Emergency Management Director
Alex Freeman joined Racine County Emergency Management in December of 2021. Prior to his work with Racine County, Alex worked with Waukesha County for seven years in the Department of Emergency Preparedness as an Emergency Management Planner and Public Safety Telecommunicator. A background in public safety and security informs his multi-disciplinary perspective on incident response. His Emergency Management experience provides a complementary understanding of complex incident management. Alex is a Wisconsin Certified Emergency Manager as well as a FEMA certified Professional Continuity Practitioner. He has been a member of the Southeast Wisconsin Health Emergency Readiness Coalition since 2019 and a member of the Southeast Wisconsin Incident Management Team since 2021. Alex is passionate about whole community preparedness and is continuing his education in Public Administration and Emergency Management with the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. 

Lorenzo Santos
Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator
Lorenzo Santos is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, holding a Bachelor of Science in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations. He went on to serve active duty in the Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer on the guided missile destroyer, USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79). Lorenzo completed his Master of Professional Studies in Homeland Security at The George Washington University in 2022. He joined Racine County Emergency Management as Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator in July of 2023 and is a member of the Southeast Wisconsin Incident Management Team, Team Rubicon and serves as an Intelligence Officer in the Navy Reserve. His professional qualifications include Wisconsin Certified Emergency Manager, FEMA Master Continuity Practitioner, Professional Certificate in Cybersecurity, Professional Certificate in Project Management and a Certificate in Critical Infrastructure Disaster Management.

Mike Buse
Volunteer Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator
Mike Buse has a strong law enforcement background, having worked as a patrolman, water patrol officer and a corrections officer. While with the Town of Burlington Police Department’s Marine Division, he received two departmental citations. Mike was promoted as sergeant with both the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and while a private security contractor for the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office.

Tom Knitter
Volunteer Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator
Tom Knitter is a third generation police officer, having served 33 years at the federal, state and local level in law enforcement. His career has spanned a wide range of positions and assignments, including both supervisory and administrative in nature. Tom has worked on a police ambulance, served as a shift commander, an evidence technician, field training officer and member of a tactical team. He retired from the Caledonia Police Department in 2010. Tom has an Associate Degree in Police Science from Waukesha County Technical College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Milton College. He has also completed additional course work at UW-Milwaukee and Northwestern University Traffic Institute. Tom has been a member of Racine County Triad since 1996 and has served as its president since 2001. He is also a current board member of Crime Stoppers of Racine County and a member of the Plan Commission in the Village of Caledonia.

In Memory of Skip Twardosz

Skip served as a Racine County Volunteer Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator from July of 2004 to November, 2023, contributing a wealth of knowledge and experience to County Emergency Management efforts. Skip also served as the Town of Burlington Emergency Management Director. 

Skip retired in 1999, after serving 32 years at the federal, state and local level in law enforcement, where he worked as patrol, SWAT, Officer Friendly, investigator, administrative director, training officer, crime scene technician and firearms instructor.

Skip retired from the Franklin Park, IL Police Department, a suburb of Chicago, where he was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police and received their Honor and Merit Award and Award of Excellence, among many other departmental citations. He is a past chairman of the Law Enforcement Division, Public Employees section of the National Safety Council and he received the William H. Cameron Award in 1978-79.

We are fortunate to have known Skip as a member of our team. We thank him and his family for their years of dedicated service to the community. He will be missed.