GRAND FORKS — One of the longest-serving police officers in North Dakota has officially retired.

Grand Forks Police Sgt. Kevin Kallinen took off his uniform for the final time Wednesday, ending a 45-year career with the department.

Sgt. Kallinen said his nerves on his last day were the same as when he first joined the Grand Forks Police Department on March 30, 1980. After 16,602 days of service, he completed one of his final patrols around the city.

"It will probably hit me later, I'm just doing the same thing I do every day," Kallinen said.

Before joining the GFPD, Kallinen spent a year and a half with the Red Lake County Sheriff's Office.

"I didn't even have a cage in my car, I didn't have a shotgun rack. I didn't have a portable radio," he said.

Kallinen was promoted to sergeant i

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