University of Minnesota Police Chief Greg Hestness will retire next spring after 11 years on the job.

Hestness, who also serves as the university's assistant vice president for public safety, began his tenure in 2003, after serving with the Minneapolis Police Department for 28 years, eventually rising to the rank of deputy chief. He plans to retire next June, U officials said.

A Minneapolis native, he received his bachelor and master's from the U and master's from St. Mary's University. He also graduated from the FBI National Academy, the Senior Management Institute for Police and the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators Executive Development Institute, an online biography said.

In a statement, university Vice President Pamela Wheelock thanked Hestness for his years of service.

Hestness also drew praise from Wheelock for his handling of a string of brazen and violent crimes on campus last year, when he took the unusual step of asking the city to direct additional officers to the area.

She added that U officials will "begin very soon the process" of hiring a new chief.