Founded in 1858, the Hastings Police Department will soon bid farewell to its 56th chief of police.

Hastings Police Chief David D. Wilske has announced his plans to retire after working nearly 30 years in law enforcement. Wilske’s retirement will be effective March 31, 2026, according to a city news release.

“I’ve said this many times before — I wish I had started my law enforcement career with the Hastings Police Department,” said Wilske, who first joined the department in May 2017, in the release. “The community support, the professionalism of our officers and the partnerships we’ve built have made this an incredibly rewarding experience.”

Prior to his time in Hastings, Wilske spent 20 years with the University of Minnesota police, working his way up from patrol officer to operations

See Full Page