Safety officer retires after 44 years at Indiana University

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) - Indiana University's superintendent of public safety is retiring after a 44-year career with the Bloomington school's police department.

Jerry Minger is set to retire Monday, The (Bloomington) Herald Times (http://bit.ly/1QnOJkC ) reported. His service with the department was celebrated Thursday at a retirement party, where he received a Medal for Distinguished Service, a presidential award created in 2010 to honor outstanding service to the Indiana University community.

Minger started working with the Indiana University Police Department in 1972 as a member of the "safety division," and eventually rose through the ranks from patrol officer to interim chief. He was named director of public safety in 2010 and was given the rank of superintendent in 2014 when the position was renamed.

"I figure I kind of hung around for 44 years," he said in his near-empty office Friday afternoon. "It just seemed like the right place to stay."

During his retirement, Minger plans to spend more time performing with his classic rock and blues band, the Justin Case Band, in which he sings and plays guitar.

Minger said "just seeing everybody all the time" is what he'll miss most about the job, but he's confident that he will still see his soon-to-be former co-workers around Bloomington.

Indiana University Police Chief Bob True will serve as the department's interim superintendent of public safety after Minger wraps up his final day on the job.

This spring, a committee is expected to select Minger's successor.

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Information from: The Herald Times, http://www.heraldtimesonline.com