The Daily Standard
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MINSTER - It wasn't the way he wanted to go out, but Minster Police Chief David Friend said he plans to retire after learning Minster village council members denied his request for a 30-day unpaid leave for a hip replacement surgery planned this week.
Friend, who returned to work earlier this month after a long battle a life-threatening flesh-eating bacteria, told the newspaper Saturday that he was disheartened by council's decision earlier in the day.
"I'm not mad, I'm disappointed," he said. "I'm sure it was a hard decision for them to make."
Friend, 71, said he will meet with village administrator Don Harrod today and plans to submit his notice of retirement.
Harrod said council met Saturday morning in executive session and then reconvened in open session. They voted to reject Friend's request for additional time off for the hip replacement surgery, according to Harrod. He said council members decided because of Friend's lengthy medical leave earlier this year it would not be in "best interests" of the village to grant the additional leave, contending it would be a hardship on the community.
Friend was hospitalized for 59 days after being diagnosed in January with necrotizing fasciitis, commonly known as flesh-eating bacteria. He was in intensive care for an extended period during which his vital organs began to fail. He battled back and was released to a rehabilitation facility before returning home in March. He then continued his recovery at home before returning to work in early June.
Friend said he had worked hard to get into shape to return to work, but recently began experiencing pain that he thought was caused by a pulled muscle. However, it was determined his hip had deteriorated. Friend said a surgeon told him he needed to have a hip replacement right away and the procedure is scheduled for Tuesday in Springfield.
The chief said he is not sure what is in his future after stepping down from the position he's held since 2014. He said he does plan to continue living in the Minster area.
"It's hard to picture me without a badge on," he said. He began his career in law enforcement nearly 50 years ago. His service in law enforcement led him small communities in New Madison, Covington, West Milton, Tipp City, Amelia and Minster.
"I'm going to miss working with the officers and with the community," he said. "I met a lot of nice people in the community."
"I would have liked to have stayed on the job another couple of years," Friend said, adding that he had been looking forward to seeing through to fruition the planned $2.4 million expansion and renovation of the police department building set to begin this summer.
"When a new chief comes in, he wants to leave the department better than when he came and I think I've done that," he said.
