Naumann Promoted to Deputy Chief of Tribal PD

Mille Lacs Tribal Police Deputy Chief Derrick Naumann.

By VIVIAN LaMOORE, EDITOR

After 15 years of service to the Mille Lacs Band Tribal Police Department, Derrick Naumann has been promoted to Deputy Chief of Tribal Police. Naumann began his career in February 2007 as a patrol officer, primarily working overnights in the Aazhoomog community. After seven years there, he moved over to District I, where he has been ever since.

Naumann has been a field training officer, patrol training officer, fitness coordinator, member of the TPD SWAT team, and Commander of the TPD SWAT team. In 2015, he was instrumental as an investigator in the multi-agency Great Nations Tribal Drug and Gang Task Force going after those involved in the heroin/opioid epidemic. The task force involved members from Upper and Lower Sioux, Leech Lake, and Mille Lacs tribal police departments as well as other state-funded task forces. In the short period of time of operation, the task force was successful in taking thousands of dollars' worth of illicit drugs off the streets and respectfully possibly saving many lives. The task force was perhaps on their way to becoming one of the most successful drug and gang task forces in the state. However, after the revocation of the law enforcement agreement in 2016, the task force was forced to disband.

In November of 2016, Naumann was promoted to Patrol Sergeant with TPD. As of October 31, 2022, he has been Deputy Chief.

Naumann grew up in Milaca and watched his dad’s career as a paramedic in the Metro Area for 20 years. “I was going to be a paramedic, too,” Naumann said. He received his EMT certification from St. Cloud Technical College at the time he graduated from Milaca High School in 2001. He then worked for North Memorial in the Milaca area and took the position of a 911 dispatcher with the Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office. There, he learned building relationships was paramount in law enforcement. “Working with deputies, state troopers, EMTs, and the public, you have to be able to work with very diverse people,” Naumann said. “And after getting to know the law enforcement side, I knew that was the direction I should go.”

While working at the Sheriff’s Office in 2004, he began attending Central Lakes College studying Criminal Justice and earned his Law Enforcement Certificate. “I was hired here in 2007 and I have been here ever since,” Naumann said.

The most memorable experience he has had while working with TPD in the community happened during the period of the law enforcement agreement revocation. “There was a real outpouring of support from the community. There was a Sober Squad thing out in front of the Market one day and Terry Kemper asked James West and I to participate in the drum. That was something I will never forget,” Naumann said.

“Based on his level of experience, training, expertise, team leadership on the Great Lakes Task Force, experience in investigations, supervisory experience, Naumann was hands-down qualified for the position,” Tribal Police Chief James West said. “The other aspect is his leadership missions and partnerships with community members and other Band departments bleed into the TPD's objective to provide the best possible service to the Band members and the community.”