For Lt. Derik Zimmel, a 28-year career with Grand Forks Police Department comes to a close — sort of

GRAND FORKS — Lt. Derik Zimmel of the Grand Forks Police Department "retired" Saturday — sort of. Zimmel, 56, spent his entire 28-year sworn law enforcement career with GFPD, starting in May 1998. In a way, that career ended Saturday, but there wasn t a retirement party because Zimmel really isn t going anywhere. I don t look at this as ending a career, he said. It s just a shift in chapters. So it s not like I m going to be kicking my feet up. I m going to be plenty busy. Zimmel already has a part-time role lined up with GFPD as an accreditation manager. It s a remote position, and he will make sure the agency is in compliance with national best practices. I refuse to be one of those people that retire and then they can t stop themselves from walking around here and having a presence, Zimmel said. He will go on a bit of a hiatus before starting the new role at GFPD, but he s still not going to take a break. That time will be spent focusing on True North