KEARNEY POLICE DEPARTMENT JULY – SEPTEMBER | 2022

A WORD FROM CHIEF WAUGH Thank you for taking the time to read our 3 rd Quarter Kearney Police Newsletter, my hope is you will find it informative and encouraging by the fantastic work being done each and every day by members of this organization in line with the goals and vision of the City of Kearney. During this quarter, we have focused on two very important goals, Officer Wellness and Mental Health Response. During the past several months, we have had the pleasure to work directly with the McKenna’s Rae of Hope Foundation and First Responders Foundation of Omaha to bring Officer Resilience Training to the Kearney Police Department. I’m proud to report, due in large part to the work from Lieutenant Gabe Kowalek, Sergeant Ryan Ohri, and Officer Anthony Faz in partnership with Amanda Pearson from the McKenna’s Rae of Hope Foundation, a grant from the Arthur Klinkacek Community Enrichment Fund was received through the Kearney Area Community Foundation to train nearly 100% of our sworn staff and several other members of our team in Officer Resilience. The training is designed to equip officers with validated skills in resilience to strengthen one’s ability to overcome adversity and challenges, manage stress, maintain peak performance, and thrive in their personal and professional lives. Sergeant Ryan Ohri has been involved in this process and also preparing a plan, policy, and procedure to bring a Peer to Peer support program to KPD. Additionally, KPD, BCSO, Region 3 Behavioral Health and Lutheran Family Services continue to build the Co-Responder program and Community Outreach Program to better equip our agencies to respond to and address Behavioral Health needs in our community in addition to provided Crisis Intervention Training to our police officers. The Co-Responder position has yet to be filled, anyone interested may visit Lutheran Family services to learn more and/or apply. Investigator Rob Taillon has been instrumental in bringing CIT training to our area and is heavily involved with the creation of the Central Nebraska Crisis Intervention Chapter with Lutheran Family Services. Once again, these initiatives will directly impact the lives of those serving, while adding incredible value to the goals we have as an organization to ensure a safe and secure Kearney. Thank you and we wish you a safe, healthy, and happy winter season. – Chief Bryan D. Waugh

NEW HIRES/ASSIGNMENTS/PROMOTIONS Changes this quarter include recruit Braylen Luke beginning his career with the City of Kearney on August 1st and starting at the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center August 29th. Officer Lane Cacek and Officer Robert Larsen graduated from the Law Enforcement Training Academy on August 12th and were sworn in on August 23rd. Officer McCoy completed the field training program and joined Uniformed Patrol Shift “A”. Emerson Canales-Chavez completed his 300-hour summer internship on August 11th and AJ Faz was selected for the Fall 2022 internship and started on September 6th. The department also celebrated several milestone anniversaries: •

15 years – Community Service Officer Nate Province and Community Service Officer Seth VanHorn

•

5 years – Officer Jon Alstrom, Officer Brett Schutte and Officer Cody Weldon

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT National Night Out 2022 was held at Centennial Park this year and hundreds of citizens joined Kearney Police Department for a night of fun and community. The event included a meal provided by the Citizen’s Academy, drone and K-9 demos, bounce houses, music by the KHS drumline and more. Recent graduates of the Youth Citizens Police Academy joined our School Resource Officers in leading the Blue Light Walk. We couldn’t host these types of events without all our wonderful partners and amazing community. Thank you every one that joined us and if you missed out watch our Facebook and Twitter for information on upcoming events.

THE WALL THAT HEALS The 37th Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Reunion brought The Wall That Heals, a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C, to Kearney to be displayed at Patriot Park from August 11th -14th. Kearney Police Department was honored to join the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office and the Patriot Guard Riders in providing an escort for the wall into Kearney from East Hwy 30, through town, past the Central Nebraska Veterans Home to its final display location at Patriot Park. The display offers an opportunity to learn about the impact of the Vietnam War and promotes healing. Stan Brodine and Terry Labs were essential in bringing the memorial to Kearney and we appreciate all the work they did.

OFFICER ACTIVITY Officers responded to 8,259 calls for service this quarter including 360 traffic accidents and 1,673 traffic stops. Officers made 491 arrests that included 127 felonies. Officers handled 1,801 incidents that included 115 assaults, 108 vandalisms, 36 DUI’s, 112 larcenies, 122 mental health calls, 103 drug/narcotic violations and 42 frauds. Kearney Police Department is also testing a pilot program of license plate readers through Flock Safety. Twenty-eight cameras have been placed in designated locations throughout Kearney to help solve and reduce crime. Through this pilot program KPD Officers have apprehended 10 fugitives and recovered 5 stolen vehicles.

FBI NATIONAL ACADEMY On September 13th Captain Kevin Thompson joined Bryan Waugh, Dan Lynch, Mike Kirkwood and Dale Hungerford as graduates of the FBI National Academy. The FBINA is a 10-week program in Quantico, Virginia that offers top notch training and networking to leaders in law enforcement. Attendees are nominated by the leaders within their department and if selected join the 1% of law enforcement that attends the training. Captain Thompson reported, “The FBINA was easily the greatest experience of my law enforcement career. I was able to learn from some of the very best instructors from around the nation and world to teach various curriculum at an expert level. Additionally, the contacts and friendships made with those who attended is invaluable going forward. Because of FBINA, I am a better leader and have a better understanding of what it takes to maintain, build and grow a successful law enforcement agency.” The next KPD officer to attend the prestigious training will be Lieutenant Kowalek who will attend in the fall of 2023.

STAY IN THE KNOW AND CONNECT WITH KPD As a department we are committed to keeping the public up to date with information as it becomes available. Click the following links and images to visit and follow our accounts and websites: City Website Police to Citizen See Something Send Something

Prepared by Emily Baughman Administrative Coordinator/Crime Analyst