Badges of Honor 2012

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Thomas Co. Sheriff calls on State Patrol experience By Andrew Bottrell abottrell@nptelegraph.com There aren’t too many people in Thomas County that Gary Eng doesn’t know. Eng, a 28-year veteran of law enforcement retired from the Nebraska State Patrol in September 2006 to take on the role of Thomas County Sheriff, a county of less than 700 people centered in Thedford. “You know everybody,” Eng said. “You try to take care of everybody and work things out

the best that you can. There comes a time you when you have to do your job and hope everyone understands that.” In 2006, Thomas County had been without a sheriff for about six months, when Eng, who was familiar with the area after working several cases in Thomas County, accepted the appointment from the Governor. “As an investigator I had worked several cases up here in the time they didn’t have the sheriff,” he said. “I had received some phone calls and comments ‘why don’t you come be our sheriff.’ I love the small town atmosphere. So, I visited with my wife, checked with Nebraska State Patrol retirement and decided it was time to make a change.” Eng will have six years of service in Thomas County on Oct. 1. “Every day is something different,” he said. “I plan on running again for the Thomas County Sheriff ’s Office. After that term, I’ll be 66. I might slow down after that.” Eng began his career in March 1984 as a patrolman for the Nebraska State Patrol, stationed in McCook in the Troop D office, where he was named officer of the year by the McCook Chamber

of Commerce in 1988. He joined the undercover drug division of the NSP in 1991, and the criminal investigation division in April of 2000, where he was involved in the manhunt for Charles Moses who shot Robert Sedlacek, a farmer, near Paxton in 2000. “I was part of doing surveillance for Moses and doing interviews to follow up,” he said. “There was plenty of work for everybody.” Moses also shot two Nebraska State Patrolmen during a shootout, and led police on a manhunt that ended in Wyoming. He was sentenced to 160 years in prison on Jan. 23, 2001. Eng also received an LECC Accommodation from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for his work on a murder case in Custer County near Arnold. “I worked drug division, undercover for 10 years. I enjoyed that,” he said. “I don’t mean to sound morbid, but I did enjoy the death scenes. Trying to figure out what happened and putting everything together and presenting it to a prosecutor. It was quite the challenge.” Eng’s experience also gives other rural sheriff departments in the Sandhills a tool in case of suspicious deaths. “I do consulting with several of the smaller sheriff ’s departments,” he said. “If they have a death scene, that looks strange or peculiar, they’ll call me and I’ll go over and help them.


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Police work a brotherhood abottrell@nptelegraph.com

Swain said it’s also the relationship with the community that makes North Platte’s department special. “I like going out into the community when I’m off duty,” he said. “There isn’t a place I can go where I don’t feel welcome. We can’t work well without the help of our citizens. It goes beyond the badge. We’re still known as people.”

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He also remembers a local police officer, Johnny Wardyn, who taught bicycle safety to his fifth grade class.

Agler began his career in 1977 with the North Platte Police Department, and says he continues the job because of the feeling he gets doing a public service for the community. “We’re exposed to the dark side of the community he said. On the other side of that we help the victims. The criminal side is a small

“I was there to find myself,” he said. A friend of his was working at the jail, and got him a job, which prompted him to take a criminal justice class, and he never turned back.

Braxton Sawyer-Kociemba, a Broken Bow native, just received an associate degree in criminal justice from Mid-Plains Community College-Broken Bow, and said he grew up playing cops and robbers.

Investigator Russ Poe, who is new to the criminal investigation division, grew up outside Boise where he took classes taught by the Nampa, Idaho, Police Department.

“I was always the cop,” he said, noting that he has wanted to be a policeman since he was five.

“It really got me interested in the whole aspect,” he said. “It’s something different every day.”

Lisa Citta is a graduate of Dana College in Blair.

Service is one of the main reasons that Poe said he entered into police work.

“It’s the job I always wanted to have,” she said, saying its exciting and she wanted a career where she could assist the community she lived in.

The 16-month-old black and brindle canine was imported from Czechoslovakia and takes his commands in Czech, Wood said. Broken Bow Police Department purchased Buddy from Worldwide Canine, Inc., in Spring Branch, Texas. The addition of a drug dog to the department was made possible thanks to a grant of $8,500 from the Custer County Foundation, used to purchase the dog, and a grant of $2,500 from the Custer County Drug Board, used to fund training for Buddy and Officer Wood.

He tracks humans through ground displacement, Wood explained, sniffing to detect where someone steps, which doesn't smell the same as the ground around it. He can sniff across dirt, concrete, sand or water.

“You do get to help people out and have your chances of saving people,” he said. “You want to make a difference in your community, because you live in it.”

Wood spent three weeks in Spring Branch, Texas, where he and Buddy trained together before the new dog was put into service. During the training, Wood and Buddy did drug searches in jails, halfway houses and dorms, where Buddy did find drugs.

Buddy replaced Wood's 11-year-old K-9, Charly, who is finally retired and "living comfortably" at Wood's home. During his career, Charly helped Wood find one of the largest state highway seizure of drugs in Nebraska.

Lt. Rich Hoaglund said he wanted to be an officer since he was 12, and followed that up with a associate degree from Mid-Plains Community College.

Poe said he liked the adrenaline of working on patrol, and said the job is like being on a team. However, detective work is a little different, he said.

The new K-9 is a dual-purpose dog who can search for the odor of narcotics, search and

"Buddy's got some big shoes to fill," Wood said. "Because Charly's awesome."

“Since the day I turned 21, I’ve been an officer,” he said. The now 35-year veteran said he likes the feeling he gets when he helps victims of a crime.

“There’s a satisfaction when you close a case out,” he said.

“I just like the work,” he said. “[We] help people deal with people who are hurting them. It gives us an opportunity to bring justice.” The passion for police work came a little later in life for Sgt. Kendall Allison, but now 20 years into his career, he’s just as passionate as the rest of the officers in the department.

Officer Dalen Wood is shown with the department's new dual-purpose K-9, Buddy.

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“He had a pearl-handled revolver. I thought that was the coolest thing in the world,” Agler said.

Two other officers are just beginning their careers.

"He was deployed to bring an aggressive prisoner out of the back of a patrol car, and it worked," Wood said.

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“These officers drove down Walnut to get to 12th Street,” he said. “Ever since I was a little kid, I sat on the curb and watched those guys go by.”

Allison said he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do when he entered college.

track humans and bite on command. He can sniff out the odor of marijuana, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and some other drugs as well.

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Chief Deputy Jim Agler, a North Platte native, said he wanted to be a policeman at a young age, living along 11th Street near Walnut.

Agler has worked in every phase of police work since beginning his career, including a patrolman, the criminal investigation department and now in administration.

After Broken Bow Police Department welcomed Buddy, a Dutch shepherd K-9, to the department on June 20, 2009, he got called to duty the very next day, according to K-9 Officer Dalen Wood.

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“We consider ourselves a family,” North Platte Police Chief Mike Swain said. “Like a family, you have your little disruptions, but those never last long.”

“It’s pretty rewarding – you’re helping people,” he said. “Knowing that you did all you could to solve something, or make a difference.”

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There’s one thing that each police officer said about their work: it’s a brotherhood.

[part of what we do],” he said. “It’s my hometown. It’s a pleasure and honor to serve the community.”

BrokenBowPolice.com

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By Andrew Bottrell

Police K-9, Buddy, aids investigations

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To Serve And Protect By Ronda Addy

Although the duties of a law enforcement officer vary according to the level they work at, their main job is the same: to protect the people and property within their jurisdiction. They are expected to carry out this duty at all times, even when they are off duty. Law enforcement officers may specialize in areas such as ballistics, firearm instruction, forensics, or handwriting and fingerprint identification. They may also work in special police units such as the canine, harbor patron, horseback, motorcycle, or special weapons and tactics (SWAT) unit.

Detectives or plain-clothes investigators typically specialize in one type of crime such as homicide or narcotics. Their duties include gathering facts and evidence in criminal cases. Detectives are assigned cases on a rotating basis, and in order to close a case, they must conduct interviews with witnesses, observe suspects, examine records and assist with raids and arrests.

Agents in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are responsible for the enforcement of laws and regulations related to illegal drugs. The DEA is also the sole agency responsible for handling U.S. drug investigations outside the country. In order to accomplish this, DEA agents can set up surveillance of suspected or known suspects and conduct undercover operations and criminal investigations.

At the federal level, there are various organizations that involve law enforcement. Following is a brief list of some of them and the duties involved. Agents in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigate any violations of federal law involving firearms and explosives. They are also responsible for enforcing federal tax regulations related to tobacco and alcohol. Agents can execute search warrants, conduct interviews and surveillance, and examine financial records of shipping businesses. Agents in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are responsible for investigating matters relating to bank robbery, blackmail and bribery, civil rights violations, copyright infringement, drug trafficking, espionage, interstate criminal activity, kidnapping, terrorism and white-collar crime. FBI agents can conduct surveillance, examine business records, perform authorized wiretaps, participate in undercover activi-

Setting new standards of excellence in policing through Integrity, Innovation and Training Chief Steve Scott 31 Years of Service

Captain Dan Hanson 29 Years of Service

Officer Dalen Wood 4 Years of Service

Officer Tiffany Wood 4 Years of Service

Sergeant Ryan Anderson 11 Years of Service

116 South 11th Avenue Broken Bow, NE 68822 308-872-6424 308-872-2173 policechief@brokenbowpolice.com

Agents in the U.S. Marshals Service are responsible for the transportation of federal prisoners, the protection of federal judges and witnesses, and the handling of property seized in federal criminal investigations. They have the widest jurisdiction of any federal agency. Agents in the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) are responsible for every aspect of border control and immigration. Within the INS, some agents specialize in areas such as border patrol and serve as criminal investigators, detention and deportation officers, and immigration agents and inspectors. The duties of each of these types of agents varies, but their overall mission is to assist legal immigrants and visitors and to catch, detain and deport illegal immigrants and visitors.

Officer Brian Johnson 2 Year of Service

PT Officer Lawrence Stump 28 Years of Service

Qualifications for these law enforcement jobs vary. All, however, require a special breed of individuals who want to help those in need.

Mission/Vision

Respect: We will respect diverse ideas, cultures and ethnicity, rendering services in a fair, courteous and dignified manner. Integrity: We will conduct ourselves with unwavering high standards of honesty, trust and ethical behavior. We pledge to respond to the needs of all citizens with compassion, commitment and persistence.

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Professionalism: We will present an image that commands the highest degree of confidence, knowledge and public trust.

Buddy, K-9 Police Service Dog

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Every state but Hawaii has state police officers or state troopers or highway patrol officers. Their jurisdiction is statewide and their

ties, collect evidence related to espionage activity and track the interstate movement of stolen goods.

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At the county level, law enforcement officers include the sheriff and deputy sheriff. The position of sheriff is normally an elected one and their duties are similar to those of a local police chief, while the duties of a deputy sheriff are similar to those of general law enforcement officers. Most sheriff departments tend to be small with no more than 25 officers.

duties include issuing traffic citations, directing traffic at accident scenes, administering emergency first aid and making arrests.

BROKENBB OW POLICE DEPARTMENT ADGES OF HONOR

For most of us, the closest we get to law enforcement officers is watching them on TV or in the movies. Things look so simple. Within the span of an hour or two, a crime is committed, clues are gathered, a suspect is caught and a confession is received. Of course, real-life law enforcement is nothing like that. In truth, law enforcement can be stressful and dangerous, whether at the local, state or federal level.

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Thomas County Sheriff: Gary Eng

The Custer County Sheriff's Office goal is to work with the people of Custer County to help provide effective law enforcement and promote a safe place to live.

I have been in law enforcement since March of 1984 when I started in The Nebraska State Patrol as a road trooper. I was promoted to a Trooper 2 in 1986.

Sheriff Dan Osmond 14 Years of Service

Chief Deputy Don Spanel 24 Years of Service

Sergeant Troy Smith 10 Years of Service

All years of service are the years spent with the Custer County Sheriff's Office.

Deputy Blaine Gibbons 5 Years of Service

Deputy Barrett Gibbons 1 Year of Service

Superintendants Group Citation for the my role in our attempt to arrest 8 subjects wanted on a failure to appear where a NSP was wounded and the suspect shot and killed. In May 2006 I was awarded the Law Enforcement Commitee award as lead investigator in a homicide case. I retired Sept 28th 2006 from the NSp and was appointed Thomas County Sheriff on Sept 29th 2006 where I currently reside. I enjoy being in a smaller community where I feel I can serve better due to the more personal relationships I have developed.

Gary Eng, Sheriff Thomas County Sheriff ’s Office 503 Main St Thedford, Nebraska 69166 (308)645-2418

Sheriff Gary Eng 28 Years of Service

Office Manager Kelli Estergard 28 Years of Service

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JON S. SCHROEDER Attorney at Law

213 Center Ave. P.O. Box 4 Curtis, NE 69025 308-367-4141

Frontier County Attorney schroeder@curtis-ne.com

First Bank & Trust 100 North Main St. Eustis, NE 69028 308-486-5666

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SCHROEDER & SCHROEDER, P.C.

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In 1988 I was named officer of the year by the McCook Chamber of Commerce. I joined the undercover drug division in 1991, then joined the criminal divison in April 2000 and became a Hostage negotiator. In Feb 12, 2000 I received a Superintendants citation in the Charles Moses case. In Nov 17, 2003 I received a

Dan Osmond, Sheriff Custer County Sheriff's Office 116 South 11th Ave. Broken Bow, NE 68822 p (308) 872-6418 f (308) 872-6585

Deputy Dustin Spanel 7 Years of Service

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THOMAS COUNTY SHERIFF ’S DEPARTMENT BADGES OF HONOR

CUSTER COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT

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Trooper Kayla Farrell

Trooper Matt Adams

Trooper Nicholas Jones

Trooper Shane Belgum

Trooper Troy Goodschmidt

of law enforcement officer, one that is willing to commit to a 24/7 job. Each handler and their K-9 partner are carefully selected and ultimately share every aspect of their lives.

• Dual Purpose K-9, trained in Narcotics Detection and Patrol • Utilized in numerous narcotic searches, cash seizures, building searches and tracks. • Results led to several misdemeanor and felony arrests

German Shepherd who served from 2001-2011 • Handler: Lieutenant Stokey • Dual Purpose K-9, trained in Narcotics Detection and Patrol • Utilized in numerous narcotic searches, cash seizures, building searches and tracks. • Results led to several misdemeanor and felony arrests

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Deputy Sheriff Willard Carpenter 6 Years of Service

Deputy Sheriff Derick Hansen 1 Year of Service

• Nationally Certified Through NNDDA

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• Handler: Trooper Jeremiah Johnson

K-9 Max, RETIRED

Deputy Sheriff Scott Earhart 12 Years of Service

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3 year old Belgium Malinois with 1 year of service

• He is a Dual Purpose K-9 used for Drug Detection, Evidence Recovery, Tracking, and Criminal Apprehension

Deputy Sheriff Bret Whittaker 15 Years of Service

• Been on the road since May of 2010 • Was deployed 57 times in 2011 • Located all types of narcotics that he is certified in: Marijuana, Cocaine, Heroin, Methamphetamine • Total money seized in 2011 with assistance from K9 Zeigo: $95,500.00

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K-9 Debo

Max, K-9 Police Service Dog

Sheriff Daniel Rupp 17 Years of Service

Tom has always been interested in law enforcement. It is a rewarding experience working with and helping the people of the county and dealing with the many challenges facing county government.

• Handler: Deputy Gaasch

Debo, K-9 Police Service Dog

Sheriff Thomas Dow 22 Years of Service Tom grew up in Harlen County Nebraska. Graduated from Orleans High School. Wife Tammy and children Terry and wife Crystal of Omaha NE, Tiffani and Tanner of Hayes Center.

K-9 Zeigo 4 year old Belgium Malinois

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Daniel Rupp, Sheriff Frontier County Sheriff ’s Office PO Box 320 Curtis, NE 69025 (308)367-4411 Fax:(308)367-4268

The K-9 handler is a very special breed

Trooper Jeremiah Johnson

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Thomas Dow, Sheriff Hayes County Sheriff ’s Office P.O. Box 86 505 Troth Street Hayes Center, NE 69032 (308) 286-3364

FRONTIER CO.BS HERIFF •H HONOR AYES CO. SHERIFF ADGES OF

NEBRASKA STATE PATROL

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Deputy Gaasch and Zeigo, K-9 Police Service Dog


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Chris Hall

Kathy Schultz Trooper Will Cleveland

Trooper Brock Mickelson

Trooper Dion Neumiller

Trooper Eric Janssen

Trooper John Hadaway

Trooper Justin Buhlke

Trooper Kristine Hunzeker

Trooper Nathan Veal

Trooper Ryan Hayes

Trooper Ted Gans

Trooper Barry Hinkle

Trooper Carolyn O’Brien

Trooper Doug Petty

Trooper J.J. Pedersen

Trooper John Wagner

No Photo Available Lola Merrigan Terri Snare Deputy Sean T. Carson 10 Years of Service Jonathan Heflin, Sheriff Logan County Sheriff ’s Office 317 Main St Stapleton, Nebraska 69163 (308)636-2288

BADGES HONOR

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Terry Welch

Sheriff Jonathan S . Heflin 4 Years of Service

NEBRASKA TATE PATROL HONOR BADGES S OF

FRONTIER CO. B SADGES HERIFFOF • L HOGAN ONOR CO. SHERIFF

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Trooper Jon Sanko

Trooper Brandon Wilkie

Trooper Matt Schmit

Trooper Dan Thompson

Trooper Peter Rutherford

Trooper Eric Hesser

Trooper Shanon Koubek

Trooper Jeff Van Stelton

Sheriff Jerome K. Kramer 29 Years of Service

Sergeant Lonnie McDonald 31 Years of Service

Chief Deputy Roland L. Kramer 17 Years of Service

Sergeant Casey Nelms 29 Years of Service

Lieutenant Dan Newton 17 Years of Service

Sergeant John Davis 22 Years of Service

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office strives to provide highly trained and professional Staff who will protect life and property through enforcement of regulations, ordinances, and laws. The Staff pledges a commitment to public service while also providing non-enforcement assistance to citizens in need.

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Trooper Kevin Horst

Trooper Matthew Naughtin

Trooper Robert Golden

Trooper Stephen Monfee

Sergeant Wayne Connell 13 Years of Service

Sergeant Dustin Achenbach 11 Years of Service

Corporal Merit Newman 11 Years of Service

HONOR

Trooper Joseph Hansen

Jerome K. Kramer, Sheriff 302 N Jeffers North Platte, Nebraska 69101 Non-emergency: (308)534-4350

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The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office shall endeavor to provide a positive, proactive, and productive work environment through continual communication, training and Staff participation.

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Trooper Tyler Schmidt

Trooper Kenneth Moody

The mission of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is to preserve the Peace in Lincoln County, Nebraska by serving our citizens and visitors with the highest level of public safety. We are dedicated to providing professional service by exemplifying honor, integrity, honesty, compassion, leadership, professional competence, and respect, while conducting ourselves with supreme ethical standards and preserving the Constitutional Rights of all; free and seized.

LINCOLN COUNTY SHERIFF ’S DEPARTMENT BADGES OF HONOR

NEBRASKA STATE PATROL

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Corporal Devin Ruff 5 Years of Service

Deputy Dan Barker 26 Years of Service

Deputy Jim Crown 22 Years of Service

Deputy Charles Nichols 15 Years of Service

Sergeant Buck Boje

Sergeant Kyle Diefenbaugh

Sergeant Cory Halverson

Sergeant Martin Denton

Sergeant Aaron Watson

Deputy Brent Lundgreen 10 Years of Service

Deputy Season Trevino 8 Years of Service

Deputy Robert Zeiler 7 Years of Service

Deputy Brad Peltier 6 Years of Service

Deputy Jeff Gaasch 5 Years of Service

Sergeant Joel Smith

Sergeant Robert Rose

Investigator Clinton Elwood

Investigator Jeff Rogers

Investigator Michael Dowling

Deputy Tom Courter 4 Years of Service

Deputy Heath Bellinger New Hire

Investigator Carlos Trevino

Trooper Ben Brakenhoff

Trooper Chad Phaby

Trooper Eddie Martens

Trooper Jarrod Connelly

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Corporal Larry Meyer 7 Years of Service

NEBRASKA TATE PATROL BADGES S OF HONOR

LINCOLN COUNTY SHERIFF ’S DEPARTMENT BADGES OF HONOR

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300 West South River Road North Platte, NE 691014 (308)535-8047 The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) is Nebraska’s only statewide full-service law enforcement agency. Serving Nebraska since 1937, NSP officers perform a wide variety of duties. Those duties include working with communities to improve public safety; enforcing traffic, criminal and drug laws; investigating crimes, as well as enforcing the laws and federal regulations pertaining to commercial motor carriers.

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Sergeant Bob Veal

Sergeant Korey Johnson

Office Clerk Patty Covey 7 Years of Service

Office Clerk Delicia Mata 6 Years of Service

Office Clerk Lexie Ruzicka 4 Years of Service

Detention Center Clerk Marla Haines 11 Years of Service

Lieutenant Mark Stokey

Office Manager Kathy Wilkens 11 Years of Service

Office Clerk Sally Wilhelmson 13 Years of Service

Sergeant Tim Arnold

Did you know...

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The first full-time, paid law enforcement officers were hired bythe City of Boston in 1712.

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Lieutenant Dan Riens

Lieutenant Kirk Hansel

Deputy Adam Cooper New Hire

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HONOR

Lieutenant Lynn Williams

Captain Jim Parrish

Deputy Tim Kirk New Hire

LINCOLN COUNTY SHERIFF ’S DEPARTMENT BADGES OF HONOR

NEBRASKA TATE PATROL BADGESSOF HONOR

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NORTH PLATTE POLICE DEPARTMENT HONOR

Chief Mike Swain 37 Years of Service

Deputy Chief Jim Agler 35 Years of Service

North Platte Police Department 701 S. Jeffers North Platte NE 69101 Telephone: (308) 535-6789 Fax: (308) 535-6715

Patrol Lieutenant Rich Hoagland 35 Years of Service

Support Lieutenant Steve Reeves 24 Years of Service

Mission/Vision Mission/Vision It is the mission of the North Platte It is the mission of the North Platte Police Department to preserve Police Department to preserve the peace and order and to enforce the the peace and order and to enforce the laws, ordinances, and rulings laws, ordinances, and rulings of the State and City. of the State and City.

Police Officer Scott Baker, 11 years Police Officer Rick Harms, 11 years Police Officer Nick Tonkinson, 8 years Police Officer Jim Hagen, 8 years Police Officer Chris Ablard, 7 years Police Officer Levi Gibbs, 6 years Police Officer David Turner, 6 years Police Officer Adam Charter, 5 years Police Officer Travis Roth, 5 years Rodney Brown, 4 years Police Officer Police Officer Adam Miller, 3 years Police Officer Jay Meduna, 1 year Police Officer Braxton Sawyer-Kociemba, new Police Officer Lisa Citta, new CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES Administrative Secretary III Ronda Livingston, 23 years Clerk/Dispatcher Supervisor Mary Ann Agler, 37 years Clerk/Dispatcher II Kendra Younghans, 30 years Clerk/Dispatcher II Connie Kramer, 22 years Public Safety Employee Joan Lerch, 20 years

Public Safety Employee Brandon Herrada, 4 months Clerk/Dispatcher Sharon Martens, 37 years Clerk/Dispatcher Kathy Kuenning, 35 years Clerk/Dispatcher Delores Fraser, 27 years Clerk/Dispatcher Melinda Baker, 14 years Clerk/Dispatcher Jason Eastman, 12 years Teresa Thompson, 8 years Clerk/Dispatcher Clerk/Dispatcher Dale Hawley, 4 years Clerk/Dispatcher Kellie Whyte, 3 years Clerk/Dispatcher Deanna Shaw, 2 years Clerk/Dispatcher Krystal Stremel, 8 mo Clerk/Dispatcher Sara Pulido, 8 mo Evidence/Property Tech. Gayle Reed, 8 years Animal Control Supervisor Kerri Ross, 6 years Animal Control Officer Eric Schultz, 15 years Animal Control Officer John Pettit, 10 years Animal Shelter Attendant Dixie Lehmkuhler, 11 years Police Clerk Stephanie Dilley, 14 years Police Clerk Liz Albrecht-Connelly, 8 years Police Clerk Nola Yonker, 9 years P/T Data Entry Clerk Julie Wareham, 2 years

Senior Deputy Tom Burch 38 Years of Service Reserve Deputy Pat McNeil 31 Years of Service Sheriff John Haller 20 Years of Service John Haller, Sheriff McPherson County Sheriff ’s Office Emergency Management Director 500 Anderson St Tryon, Nebraska 69167 Phone: 308-587-2445 FAX: 308-587-2599 Cell: 308-530-1980

Reserve Deputy Jon McNeel 37 Years of Service

HONOR

NORTH PLATTE POLICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES Investigations Sergeant Steve Toelle, 34 years Patrol Sergeant Kendall Allison, 24 years Patrol Sergeant Jeff Hoaglund, 30 years Patrol Sergeant Gary Hovey, 26 years Patrol Sergeant Jeff Foote, 23 years Investigator James Ady, 21 years Investigator Monte McNeil, 17 years Investigator Roger Freeze, 17 years Investigator Dale Matuszczak, 11 years Investigator Dan Shea, 13 years Investigator John Stadler, 10 years Investigator Jason Gale, 14 years Investigator John Deal, 8 years Investigator Nate Weems, 7 years Investigator Tim Nielsen, 11 years Investigator Russ Poe, 10 years Police Officer Jay Niles, 15 years Police Officer Brian Folchert, 14 years Police Officer Matt Phillips, 33 years Police Officer Troy Erickson, 13 years Police Officer Tim Dowhower, 12 years Police Officer Brandon Myers, 12 years

Investigations Lieutenant Rich Thompson 34 Years of Service

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McPherson County Sheriff ’s Office Data

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Eighty percent of Americans will be the victim of violent crime at least once in their lifetime.

MCPHERSON COUNTY SHERIFF • NORTH PLATTE K-9 BADGES OF HONOR

Did you know...


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NORTH PLATTE POLICE DEPARTMENT HONOR

Chief Mike Swain 37 Years of Service

Deputy Chief Jim Agler 35 Years of Service

North Platte Police Department 701 S. Jeffers North Platte NE 69101 Telephone: (308) 535-6789 Fax: (308) 535-6715

Patrol Lieutenant Rich Hoagland 35 Years of Service

Support Lieutenant Steve Reeves 24 Years of Service

Mission/Vision Mission/Vision It is the mission of the North Platte It is the mission of the North Platte Police Department to preserve Police Department to preserve the peace and order and to enforce the the peace and order and to enforce the laws, ordinances, and rulings laws, ordinances, and rulings of the State and City. of the State and City.

Police Officer Scott Baker, 11 years Police Officer Rick Harms, 11 years Police Officer Nick Tonkinson, 8 years Police Officer Jim Hagen, 8 years Police Officer Chris Ablard, 7 years Police Officer Levi Gibbs, 6 years Police Officer David Turner, 6 years Police Officer Adam Charter, 5 years Police Officer Travis Roth, 5 years Rodney Brown, 4 years Police Officer Police Officer Adam Miller, 3 years Police Officer Jay Meduna, 1 year Police Officer Braxton Sawyer-Kociemba, new Police Officer Lisa Citta, new CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES Administrative Secretary III Ronda Livingston, 23 years Clerk/Dispatcher Supervisor Mary Ann Agler, 37 years Clerk/Dispatcher II Kendra Younghans, 30 years Clerk/Dispatcher II Connie Kramer, 22 years Public Safety Employee Joan Lerch, 20 years

Public Safety Employee Brandon Herrada, 4 months Clerk/Dispatcher Sharon Martens, 37 years Clerk/Dispatcher Kathy Kuenning, 35 years Clerk/Dispatcher Delores Fraser, 27 years Clerk/Dispatcher Melinda Baker, 14 years Clerk/Dispatcher Jason Eastman, 12 years Teresa Thompson, 8 years Clerk/Dispatcher Clerk/Dispatcher Dale Hawley, 4 years Clerk/Dispatcher Kellie Whyte, 3 years Clerk/Dispatcher Deanna Shaw, 2 years Clerk/Dispatcher Krystal Stremel, 8 mo Clerk/Dispatcher Sara Pulido, 8 mo Evidence/Property Tech. Gayle Reed, 8 years Animal Control Supervisor Kerri Ross, 6 years Animal Control Officer Eric Schultz, 15 years Animal Control Officer John Pettit, 10 years Animal Shelter Attendant Dixie Lehmkuhler, 11 years Police Clerk Stephanie Dilley, 14 years Police Clerk Liz Albrecht-Connelly, 8 years Police Clerk Nola Yonker, 9 years P/T Data Entry Clerk Julie Wareham, 2 years

Senior Deputy Tom Burch 38 Years of Service Reserve Deputy Pat McNeil 31 Years of Service Sheriff John Haller 20 Years of Service John Haller, Sheriff McPherson County Sheriff ’s Office Emergency Management Director 500 Anderson St Tryon, Nebraska 69167 Phone: 308-587-2445 FAX: 308-587-2599 Cell: 308-530-1980

Reserve Deputy Jon McNeel 37 Years of Service

HONOR

NORTH PLATTE POLICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES Investigations Sergeant Steve Toelle, 34 years Patrol Sergeant Kendall Allison, 24 years Patrol Sergeant Jeff Hoaglund, 30 years Patrol Sergeant Gary Hovey, 26 years Patrol Sergeant Jeff Foote, 23 years Investigator James Ady, 21 years Investigator Monte McNeil, 17 years Investigator Roger Freeze, 17 years Investigator Dale Matuszczak, 11 years Investigator Dan Shea, 13 years Investigator John Stadler, 10 years Investigator Jason Gale, 14 years Investigator John Deal, 8 years Investigator Nate Weems, 7 years Investigator Tim Nielsen, 11 years Investigator Russ Poe, 10 years Police Officer Jay Niles, 15 years Police Officer Brian Folchert, 14 years Police Officer Matt Phillips, 33 years Police Officer Troy Erickson, 13 years Police Officer Tim Dowhower, 12 years Police Officer Brandon Myers, 12 years

Investigations Lieutenant Rich Thompson 34 Years of Service

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McPherson County Sheriff ’s Office Data

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Eighty percent of Americans will be the victim of violent crime at least once in their lifetime.

MCPHERSON COUNTY SHERIFF • NORTH PLATTE K-9 BADGES OF HONOR

Did you know...


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300 West South River Road North Platte, NE 691014 (308)535-8047 The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) is Nebraska’s only statewide full-service law enforcement agency. Serving Nebraska since 1937, NSP officers perform a wide variety of duties. Those duties include working with communities to improve public safety; enforcing traffic, criminal and drug laws; investigating crimes, as well as enforcing the laws and federal regulations pertaining to commercial motor carriers.

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Sergeant Bob Veal

Sergeant Korey Johnson

Office Clerk Patty Covey 7 Years of Service

Office Clerk Delicia Mata 6 Years of Service

Office Clerk Lexie Ruzicka 4 Years of Service

Detention Center Clerk Marla Haines 11 Years of Service

Lieutenant Mark Stokey

Office Manager Kathy Wilkens 11 Years of Service

Office Clerk Sally Wilhelmson 13 Years of Service

Sergeant Tim Arnold

Did you know...

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The first full-time, paid law enforcement officers were hired bythe City of Boston in 1712.

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Lieutenant Dan Riens

Lieutenant Kirk Hansel

Deputy Adam Cooper New Hire

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Lieutenant Lynn Williams

Captain Jim Parrish

Deputy Tim Kirk New Hire

LINCOLN COUNTY SHERIFF ’S DEPARTMENT BADGES OF HONOR

NEBRASKA TATE PATROL BADGESSOF HONOR

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Corporal Devin Ruff 5 Years of Service

Deputy Dan Barker 26 Years of Service

Deputy Jim Crown 22 Years of Service

Deputy Charles Nichols 15 Years of Service

Sergeant Buck Boje

Sergeant Kyle Diefenbaugh

Sergeant Cory Halverson

Sergeant Martin Denton

Sergeant Aaron Watson

Deputy Brent Lundgreen 10 Years of Service

Deputy Season Trevino 8 Years of Service

Deputy Robert Zeiler 7 Years of Service

Deputy Brad Peltier 6 Years of Service

Deputy Jeff Gaasch 5 Years of Service

Sergeant Joel Smith

Sergeant Robert Rose

Investigator Clinton Elwood

Investigator Jeff Rogers

Investigator Michael Dowling

Deputy Tom Courter 4 Years of Service

Deputy Heath Bellinger New Hire

Investigator Carlos Trevino

Trooper Ben Brakenhoff

Trooper Chad Phaby

Trooper Eddie Martens

Trooper Jarrod Connelly

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Corporal Larry Meyer 7 Years of Service

NEBRASKA TATE PATROL BADGES S OF HONOR

LINCOLN COUNTY SHERIFF ’S DEPARTMENT BADGES OF HONOR

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Trooper Jon Sanko

Trooper Brandon Wilkie

Trooper Matt Schmit

Trooper Dan Thompson

Trooper Peter Rutherford

Trooper Eric Hesser

Trooper Shanon Koubek

Trooper Jeff Van Stelton

Sheriff Jerome K. Kramer 29 Years of Service

Sergeant Lonnie McDonald 31 Years of Service

Chief Deputy Roland L. Kramer 17 Years of Service

Sergeant Casey Nelms 29 Years of Service

Lieutenant Dan Newton 17 Years of Service

Sergeant John Davis 22 Years of Service

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office strives to provide highly trained and professional Staff who will protect life and property through enforcement of regulations, ordinances, and laws. The Staff pledges a commitment to public service while also providing non-enforcement assistance to citizens in need.

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Trooper Kevin Horst

Trooper Matthew Naughtin

Trooper Robert Golden

Trooper Stephen Monfee

Sergeant Wayne Connell 13 Years of Service

Sergeant Dustin Achenbach 11 Years of Service

Corporal Merit Newman 11 Years of Service

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Trooper Joseph Hansen

Jerome K. Kramer, Sheriff 302 N Jeffers North Platte, Nebraska 69101 Non-emergency: (308)534-4350

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The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office shall endeavor to provide a positive, proactive, and productive work environment through continual communication, training and Staff participation.

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Trooper Tyler Schmidt

Trooper Kenneth Moody

The mission of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is to preserve the Peace in Lincoln County, Nebraska by serving our citizens and visitors with the highest level of public safety. We are dedicated to providing professional service by exemplifying honor, integrity, honesty, compassion, leadership, professional competence, and respect, while conducting ourselves with supreme ethical standards and preserving the Constitutional Rights of all; free and seized.

LINCOLN COUNTY SHERIFF ’S DEPARTMENT BADGES OF HONOR

NEBRASKA STATE PATROL

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Chris Hall

Kathy Schultz Trooper Will Cleveland

Trooper Brock Mickelson

Trooper Dion Neumiller

Trooper Eric Janssen

Trooper John Hadaway

Trooper Justin Buhlke

Trooper Kristine Hunzeker

Trooper Nathan Veal

Trooper Ryan Hayes

Trooper Ted Gans

Trooper Barry Hinkle

Trooper Carolyn O’Brien

Trooper Doug Petty

Trooper J.J. Pedersen

Trooper John Wagner

No Photo Available Lola Merrigan Terri Snare Deputy Sean T. Carson 10 Years of Service Jonathan Heflin, Sheriff Logan County Sheriff ’s Office 317 Main St Stapleton, Nebraska 69163 (308)636-2288

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Terry Welch

Sheriff Jonathan S . Heflin 4 Years of Service

NEBRASKA TATE PATROL HONOR BADGES S OF

FRONTIER CO. B SADGES HERIFFOF • L HOGAN ONOR CO. SHERIFF

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Trooper Kayla Farrell

Trooper Matt Adams

Trooper Nicholas Jones

Trooper Shane Belgum

Trooper Troy Goodschmidt

of law enforcement officer, one that is willing to commit to a 24/7 job. Each handler and their K-9 partner are carefully selected and ultimately share every aspect of their lives.

• Dual Purpose K-9, trained in Narcotics Detection and Patrol • Utilized in numerous narcotic searches, cash seizures, building searches and tracks. • Results led to several misdemeanor and felony arrests

German Shepherd who served from 2001-2011 • Handler: Lieutenant Stokey • Dual Purpose K-9, trained in Narcotics Detection and Patrol • Utilized in numerous narcotic searches, cash seizures, building searches and tracks. • Results led to several misdemeanor and felony arrests

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Deputy Sheriff Willard Carpenter 6 Years of Service

Deputy Sheriff Derick Hansen 1 Year of Service

• Nationally Certified Through NNDDA

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• Handler: Trooper Jeremiah Johnson

K-9 Max, RETIRED

Deputy Sheriff Scott Earhart 12 Years of Service

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3 year old Belgium Malinois with 1 year of service

• He is a Dual Purpose K-9 used for Drug Detection, Evidence Recovery, Tracking, and Criminal Apprehension

Deputy Sheriff Bret Whittaker 15 Years of Service

• Been on the road since May of 2010 • Was deployed 57 times in 2011 • Located all types of narcotics that he is certified in: Marijuana, Cocaine, Heroin, Methamphetamine • Total money seized in 2011 with assistance from K9 Zeigo: $95,500.00

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K-9 Debo

Max, K-9 Police Service Dog

Sheriff Daniel Rupp 17 Years of Service

Tom has always been interested in law enforcement. It is a rewarding experience working with and helping the people of the county and dealing with the many challenges facing county government.

• Handler: Deputy Gaasch

Debo, K-9 Police Service Dog

Sheriff Thomas Dow 22 Years of Service Tom grew up in Harlen County Nebraska. Graduated from Orleans High School. Wife Tammy and children Terry and wife Crystal of Omaha NE, Tiffani and Tanner of Hayes Center.

K-9 Zeigo 4 year old Belgium Malinois

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Daniel Rupp, Sheriff Frontier County Sheriff ’s Office PO Box 320 Curtis, NE 69025 (308)367-4411 Fax:(308)367-4268

The K-9 handler is a very special breed

Trooper Jeremiah Johnson

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Thomas Dow, Sheriff Hayes County Sheriff ’s Office P.O. Box 86 505 Troth Street Hayes Center, NE 69032 (308) 286-3364

FRONTIER CO.BS HERIFF •H HONOR AYES CO. SHERIFF ADGES OF

NEBRASKA STATE PATROL

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Deputy Gaasch and Zeigo, K-9 Police Service Dog


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Thomas County Sheriff: Gary Eng

The Custer County Sheriff's Office goal is to work with the people of Custer County to help provide effective law enforcement and promote a safe place to live.

I have been in law enforcement since March of 1984 when I started in The Nebraska State Patrol as a road trooper. I was promoted to a Trooper 2 in 1986.

Sheriff Dan Osmond 14 Years of Service

Chief Deputy Don Spanel 24 Years of Service

Sergeant Troy Smith 10 Years of Service

All years of service are the years spent with the Custer County Sheriff's Office.

Deputy Blaine Gibbons 5 Years of Service

Deputy Barrett Gibbons 1 Year of Service

Superintendants Group Citation for the my role in our attempt to arrest 8 subjects wanted on a failure to appear where a NSP was wounded and the suspect shot and killed. In May 2006 I was awarded the Law Enforcement Commitee award as lead investigator in a homicide case. I retired Sept 28th 2006 from the NSp and was appointed Thomas County Sheriff on Sept 29th 2006 where I currently reside. I enjoy being in a smaller community where I feel I can serve better due to the more personal relationships I have developed.

Gary Eng, Sheriff Thomas County Sheriff ’s Office 503 Main St Thedford, Nebraska 69166 (308)645-2418

Sheriff Gary Eng 28 Years of Service

Office Manager Kelli Estergard 28 Years of Service

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JON S. SCHROEDER Attorney at Law

213 Center Ave. P.O. Box 4 Curtis, NE 69025 308-367-4141

Frontier County Attorney schroeder@curtis-ne.com

First Bank & Trust 100 North Main St. Eustis, NE 69028 308-486-5666

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SCHROEDER & SCHROEDER, P.C.

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In 1988 I was named officer of the year by the McCook Chamber of Commerce. I joined the undercover drug division in 1991, then joined the criminal divison in April 2000 and became a Hostage negotiator. In Feb 12, 2000 I received a Superintendants citation in the Charles Moses case. In Nov 17, 2003 I received a

Dan Osmond, Sheriff Custer County Sheriff's Office 116 South 11th Ave. Broken Bow, NE 68822 p (308) 872-6418 f (308) 872-6585

Deputy Dustin Spanel 7 Years of Service

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THOMAS COUNTY SHERIFF ’S DEPARTMENT BADGES OF HONOR

CUSTER COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT

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To Serve And Protect By Ronda Addy

Although the duties of a law enforcement officer vary according to the level they work at, their main job is the same: to protect the people and property within their jurisdiction. They are expected to carry out this duty at all times, even when they are off duty. Law enforcement officers may specialize in areas such as ballistics, firearm instruction, forensics, or handwriting and fingerprint identification. They may also work in special police units such as the canine, harbor patron, horseback, motorcycle, or special weapons and tactics (SWAT) unit.

Detectives or plain-clothes investigators typically specialize in one type of crime such as homicide or narcotics. Their duties include gathering facts and evidence in criminal cases. Detectives are assigned cases on a rotating basis, and in order to close a case, they must conduct interviews with witnesses, observe suspects, examine records and assist with raids and arrests.

Agents in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are responsible for the enforcement of laws and regulations related to illegal drugs. The DEA is also the sole agency responsible for handling U.S. drug investigations outside the country. In order to accomplish this, DEA agents can set up surveillance of suspected or known suspects and conduct undercover operations and criminal investigations.

At the federal level, there are various organizations that involve law enforcement. Following is a brief list of some of them and the duties involved. Agents in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigate any violations of federal law involving firearms and explosives. They are also responsible for enforcing federal tax regulations related to tobacco and alcohol. Agents can execute search warrants, conduct interviews and surveillance, and examine financial records of shipping businesses. Agents in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are responsible for investigating matters relating to bank robbery, blackmail and bribery, civil rights violations, copyright infringement, drug trafficking, espionage, interstate criminal activity, kidnapping, terrorism and white-collar crime. FBI agents can conduct surveillance, examine business records, perform authorized wiretaps, participate in undercover activi-

Setting new standards of excellence in policing through Integrity, Innovation and Training Chief Steve Scott 31 Years of Service

Captain Dan Hanson 29 Years of Service

Officer Dalen Wood 4 Years of Service

Officer Tiffany Wood 4 Years of Service

Sergeant Ryan Anderson 11 Years of Service

116 South 11th Avenue Broken Bow, NE 68822 308-872-6424 308-872-2173 policechief@brokenbowpolice.com

Agents in the U.S. Marshals Service are responsible for the transportation of federal prisoners, the protection of federal judges and witnesses, and the handling of property seized in federal criminal investigations. They have the widest jurisdiction of any federal agency. Agents in the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) are responsible for every aspect of border control and immigration. Within the INS, some agents specialize in areas such as border patrol and serve as criminal investigators, detention and deportation officers, and immigration agents and inspectors. The duties of each of these types of agents varies, but their overall mission is to assist legal immigrants and visitors and to catch, detain and deport illegal immigrants and visitors.

Officer Brian Johnson 2 Year of Service

PT Officer Lawrence Stump 28 Years of Service

Qualifications for these law enforcement jobs vary. All, however, require a special breed of individuals who want to help those in need.

Mission/Vision

Respect: We will respect diverse ideas, cultures and ethnicity, rendering services in a fair, courteous and dignified manner. Integrity: We will conduct ourselves with unwavering high standards of honesty, trust and ethical behavior. We pledge to respond to the needs of all citizens with compassion, commitment and persistence.

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Professionalism: We will present an image that commands the highest degree of confidence, knowledge and public trust.

Buddy, K-9 Police Service Dog

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Every state but Hawaii has state police officers or state troopers or highway patrol officers. Their jurisdiction is statewide and their

ties, collect evidence related to espionage activity and track the interstate movement of stolen goods.

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At the county level, law enforcement officers include the sheriff and deputy sheriff. The position of sheriff is normally an elected one and their duties are similar to those of a local police chief, while the duties of a deputy sheriff are similar to those of general law enforcement officers. Most sheriff departments tend to be small with no more than 25 officers.

duties include issuing traffic citations, directing traffic at accident scenes, administering emergency first aid and making arrests.

BROKENBB OW POLICE DEPARTMENT ADGES OF HONOR

For most of us, the closest we get to law enforcement officers is watching them on TV or in the movies. Things look so simple. Within the span of an hour or two, a crime is committed, clues are gathered, a suspect is caught and a confession is received. Of course, real-life law enforcement is nothing like that. In truth, law enforcement can be stressful and dangerous, whether at the local, state or federal level.

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Police work a brotherhood abottrell@nptelegraph.com

Swain said it’s also the relationship with the community that makes North Platte’s department special. “I like going out into the community when I’m off duty,” he said. “There isn’t a place I can go where I don’t feel welcome. We can’t work well without the help of our citizens. It goes beyond the badge. We’re still known as people.”

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He also remembers a local police officer, Johnny Wardyn, who taught bicycle safety to his fifth grade class.

Agler began his career in 1977 with the North Platte Police Department, and says he continues the job because of the feeling he gets doing a public service for the community. “We’re exposed to the dark side of the community he said. On the other side of that we help the victims. The criminal side is a small

“I was there to find myself,” he said. A friend of his was working at the jail, and got him a job, which prompted him to take a criminal justice class, and he never turned back.

Braxton Sawyer-Kociemba, a Broken Bow native, just received an associate degree in criminal justice from Mid-Plains Community College-Broken Bow, and said he grew up playing cops and robbers.

Investigator Russ Poe, who is new to the criminal investigation division, grew up outside Boise where he took classes taught by the Nampa, Idaho, Police Department.

“I was always the cop,” he said, noting that he has wanted to be a policeman since he was five.

“It really got me interested in the whole aspect,” he said. “It’s something different every day.”

Lisa Citta is a graduate of Dana College in Blair.

Service is one of the main reasons that Poe said he entered into police work.

“It’s the job I always wanted to have,” she said, saying its exciting and she wanted a career where she could assist the community she lived in.

The 16-month-old black and brindle canine was imported from Czechoslovakia and takes his commands in Czech, Wood said. Broken Bow Police Department purchased Buddy from Worldwide Canine, Inc., in Spring Branch, Texas. The addition of a drug dog to the department was made possible thanks to a grant of $8,500 from the Custer County Foundation, used to purchase the dog, and a grant of $2,500 from the Custer County Drug Board, used to fund training for Buddy and Officer Wood.

He tracks humans through ground displacement, Wood explained, sniffing to detect where someone steps, which doesn't smell the same as the ground around it. He can sniff across dirt, concrete, sand or water.

“You do get to help people out and have your chances of saving people,” he said. “You want to make a difference in your community, because you live in it.”

Wood spent three weeks in Spring Branch, Texas, where he and Buddy trained together before the new dog was put into service. During the training, Wood and Buddy did drug searches in jails, halfway houses and dorms, where Buddy did find drugs.

Buddy replaced Wood's 11-year-old K-9, Charly, who is finally retired and "living comfortably" at Wood's home. During his career, Charly helped Wood find one of the largest state highway seizure of drugs in Nebraska.

Lt. Rich Hoaglund said he wanted to be an officer since he was 12, and followed that up with a associate degree from Mid-Plains Community College.

Poe said he liked the adrenaline of working on patrol, and said the job is like being on a team. However, detective work is a little different, he said.

The new K-9 is a dual-purpose dog who can search for the odor of narcotics, search and

"Buddy's got some big shoes to fill," Wood said. "Because Charly's awesome."

“Since the day I turned 21, I’ve been an officer,” he said. The now 35-year veteran said he likes the feeling he gets when he helps victims of a crime.

“There’s a satisfaction when you close a case out,” he said.

“I just like the work,” he said. “[We] help people deal with people who are hurting them. It gives us an opportunity to bring justice.” The passion for police work came a little later in life for Sgt. Kendall Allison, but now 20 years into his career, he’s just as passionate as the rest of the officers in the department.

Officer Dalen Wood is shown with the department's new dual-purpose K-9, Buddy.

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“He had a pearl-handled revolver. I thought that was the coolest thing in the world,” Agler said.

Two other officers are just beginning their careers.

"He was deployed to bring an aggressive prisoner out of the back of a patrol car, and it worked," Wood said.

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“These officers drove down Walnut to get to 12th Street,” he said. “Ever since I was a little kid, I sat on the curb and watched those guys go by.”

Allison said he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do when he entered college.

track humans and bite on command. He can sniff out the odor of marijuana, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and some other drugs as well.

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Chief Deputy Jim Agler, a North Platte native, said he wanted to be a policeman at a young age, living along 11th Street near Walnut.

Agler has worked in every phase of police work since beginning his career, including a patrolman, the criminal investigation department and now in administration.

After Broken Bow Police Department welcomed Buddy, a Dutch shepherd K-9, to the department on June 20, 2009, he got called to duty the very next day, according to K-9 Officer Dalen Wood.

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“We consider ourselves a family,” North Platte Police Chief Mike Swain said. “Like a family, you have your little disruptions, but those never last long.”

“It’s pretty rewarding – you’re helping people,” he said. “Knowing that you did all you could to solve something, or make a difference.”

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There’s one thing that each police officer said about their work: it’s a brotherhood.

[part of what we do],” he said. “It’s my hometown. It’s a pleasure and honor to serve the community.”

BrokenBowPolice.com

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By Andrew Bottrell

Police K-9, Buddy, aids investigations

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Thomas Co. Sheriff calls on State Patrol experience By Andrew Bottrell abottrell@nptelegraph.com There aren’t too many people in Thomas County that Gary Eng doesn’t know. Eng, a 28-year veteran of law enforcement retired from the Nebraska State Patrol in September 2006 to take on the role of Thomas County Sheriff, a county of less than 700 people centered in Thedford. “You know everybody,” Eng said. “You try to take care of everybody and work things out

the best that you can. There comes a time you when you have to do your job and hope everyone understands that.” In 2006, Thomas County had been without a sheriff for about six months, when Eng, who was familiar with the area after working several cases in Thomas County, accepted the appointment from the Governor. “As an investigator I had worked several cases up here in the time they didn’t have the sheriff,” he said. “I had received some phone calls and comments ‘why don’t you come be our sheriff.’ I love the small town atmosphere. So, I visited with my wife, checked with Nebraska State Patrol retirement and decided it was time to make a change.” Eng will have six years of service in Thomas County on Oct. 1. “Every day is something different,” he said. “I plan on running again for the Thomas County Sheriff ’s Office. After that term, I’ll be 66. I might slow down after that.” Eng began his career in March 1984 as a patrolman for the Nebraska State Patrol, stationed in McCook in the Troop D office, where he was named officer of the year by the McCook Chamber

of Commerce in 1988. He joined the undercover drug division of the NSP in 1991, and the criminal investigation division in April of 2000, where he was involved in the manhunt for Charles Moses who shot Robert Sedlacek, a farmer, near Paxton in 2000. “I was part of doing surveillance for Moses and doing interviews to follow up,” he said. “There was plenty of work for everybody.” Moses also shot two Nebraska State Patrolmen during a shootout, and led police on a manhunt that ended in Wyoming. He was sentenced to 160 years in prison on Jan. 23, 2001. Eng also received an LECC Accommodation from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for his work on a murder case in Custer County near Arnold. “I worked drug division, undercover for 10 years. I enjoyed that,” he said. “I don’t mean to sound morbid, but I did enjoy the death scenes. Trying to figure out what happened and putting everything together and presenting it to a prosecutor. It was quite the challenge.” Eng’s experience also gives other rural sheriff departments in the Sandhills a tool in case of suspicious deaths. “I do consulting with several of the smaller sheriff ’s departments,” he said. “If they have a death scene, that looks strange or peculiar, they’ll call me and I’ll go over and help them.


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