(6-26-23) Minster Police Chief David Friend (71) said he plans to retire after learning that the Minster Village Council members on Saturday had denied his request for a 30-day unpaid leave for a hip replacement surgery for tomorrow.

Minster council members decided on Saturday that because of Friend’s lengthy medical leave (a life-threatening flesh-eating bacteria) earlier this year that 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 has been the Chief since 2014.