Police chief honored on retirement

Zins retires after 37 years on police force

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

'You have achieved excellence as a leader when people will follow you anywhere, if only out of curiosity.'

General Colin Powell

NEW ULM -- Wearing every hat from patrolman to chief in 37 years and four months of service on the New Ulm Police Department, Howard Zins got his final salute from New Ulm Mayor Arnold Koelpin Friday night at a retirement celebration at Turner Hall.

Zins began his service as a New Ulm patrolman on May 22, 1965. He later became a sergeant and chief, fulfilling many positions including firearms and defensive tactics instructor.

Like many other New Ulm police officers, Zins served with distinction in the Army National Guard. He served more than 35 years -- from June 22, 1961 to Nov. 22, 1996 -- reaching the E-9 rank of Command Sergeant Major, the highest Non-Commissioned Officer slot.

One of many letters recommending him for police chief, which were read at the celebration, came from a Army National Guard Command Sergeant Major who wrote about what human attributes it takes to reach such a rank -- "accomplishing missions and taking care of subordinates. Less than one-quarter of one percent of Army enlisted men reach this rank," wrote the soldier.

The evening had its lighter moments. Erv Weinkauf, who will become the New Ulm Police Chief Monday, said he owed his becoming a New Ulm Police Officer at least in part to Zins.

"Thirty-one years ago, I met him on the street one day when I was working as a Brown County Sheriff's Department dispatcher," Weinkauf said. "Later we joked about things like a guy that tried to burn down the jail."

Weinkauf commended Zins for maintaining the police exchange program between New Ulm and Bersenbruck, Germany. The banquet was also a goodbye party for the German visitors.

Many photographs of Zins and his family were presented to the packed house via a power point presentation after dinner. The audience was wowed by Zins' New Ulm Cathedral High School graduation and military photos in which he greatly resembled Elvis Presley.

He later studied Forensics at the University of Minnesota, took a leadership course at the Minnesota Military Academy at Camp Ripley and completed Total Quality Management and Front Line Leadership courses at the American Management Association in Atlanta, Ga.

Weinkauf will be sworn in at 8:30 a.m. Monday at the Law Enforcement Center.