Omaha Police Department

The motto "To Serve and Protect" is a cornerstone of the Omaha Police Department, commonly known as the OPD, the principal law enforcement agency of the city of Omaha, Nebraska. It is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. The OPD has adopted a mission statement stating "The Omaha Police Department, in partnership with our community, provides impartial, ethical, and professional law enforcement service and protection. We strive to maintain the trust and confidence of our citizens while working to improve the quality of life." The OPD is the largest law enforcement agency in the State of Nebraska.^[1]

The OPD has 821 sworn officers covering an area of 118.9 square miles (308 km²) and a population of 446,599 people (2014 census estimate) within city limits.

Organization

Command structure

Omaha Police Headquarters

Police Chief Todd Schmaderer has served as chief of police since 2012. He was appointed by the mayor with approval by the Omaha City Council, as are all police chiefs. There are four deputy chiefs who are responsible for the Uniform Patrol Bureau, Criminal Investigations Bureau, Police Services Bureau and the Executive Services Bureau. Below the chief in rank are four deputy chiefs, who have an area of responsibility within the department.

Rank structure and insignia

Rank	Insignia
Chief of Police
Deputy Chief
Captain
Lieutenant
Sergeant
Police Officer

Omaha Police Chiefs

Chief History

Webber Seavey, Omaha Police Department's first chief, Founded the International Association of Chiefs of Police in 1893. In 1982 Robert C Wadman was the first Chief to be appointed from outside the ranks of the Omaha Police Division. He was Utah Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety and served until 1989. Thomas Warren, named by Mayor Mike Fahey in 2003 was the first African American to serve as Chief in the Omaha Police Department. He served until 2008.

Patrol area

The city of Omaha is divided into quadrants by the department, with a precinct in each quadrant; Northeast, Southeast, Northwest, and Southwest. The department assists the Omaha Airport Authority's Police Department with law enforcement at Eppley Airfield, Omaha's primary airport.

Specialized divisions and units

Like most urban police departments, OPD has specialized squads and units to deal with the differing law enforcement issues of the city. Units include:

Omaha Police Department Horse Patrol

Omaha Police Department Cruiser

• Air Unit
• Burglary Unit
• Auto Theft Unit
• Fraud Unit
• Pawn and Salvage
• Felony Assault Unit
• Emergency Response Unit (SWAT)
• Fugitive Squad
• Gang Unit
• Homicide Unit
• K-9 Unit
• Bomb Squad
• Internal Affairs Unit
• Narcotics Unit
• Organized Crime Squad
• Robbery Unit
• Special Victims Unit (Child Abuse/Neglect)
• Traffic Unit
• Vice Squad

History

OPD Badge

In 1941, the department chose a distinctive badge design. The design is still in use today.

There have been 25 deaths of officers in the line of duty. Officer Larry Minard was killed on August 17, 1970 by a bomb placed by members of the Black Panther Party. The Omaha Police Department was heavily involved in the FBI's COINTELPRO operation, and using evidence from COINTELPRO, and from the confession of Duane Peak, Panthers David Rice (now known as Mondo we Langa) and Ed Poindexter were convicted for Minard's death and are currently serving life sentences. The guilt of the two has been questioned, and Amnesty International has released reports criticizing the prosecutions actions in the Rice/Poindexter Case.

Officer James B. Wilson, Jr. died on August 20, 1995. He was killed while sitting in his cruiser after pulling over a van with fictitious plates, out of which two of eight gang members exited the vehicle and shot him with an AK-47 and a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol.

Officer Jason Pratt died on September 19, 2003, a week after being confined in intensive care with a gunshot wound to the head. Pratt was shot in the line of duty during a foot pursuit. He was a member of the Omaha Police Department's S.W.A.T. team. The 12-mile processional to Calvary Cemetery was lined with residents. Some waved flags, some saluted and some just cried as the hearse passed.^[2]

Officer Kerrie Orozco, a 7-year veteran of the Omaha Police department, and a member of Gang Unit, was shot and killed on May 20, 2015, while attempting to serve an arrest warrant. Officer Orozco was part of the Metro Area Fugitive Task Force, and was in the process of serving an arrest warrant when the suspect opened fire, striking the officer. Officer Orozco was rushed to CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center, where she succumbed to her injuries.The suspect was also rushed to CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center, where he too succumbed to his injuries.^[4] This is the first time an officer has died in the line of duty since September 19, 2003, when Officer Jason Pratt was shot and killed. Orozco was also the first female Omaha Police officer killed in the line of duty.^[3][4]

Demographics

Breakdown of the makeup of the rank and file of OPD:^[5]

• Male: 80%
• Female: 20%
• White: 82%
• African-American/Black: 11%
• Hispanic: 5%
• Asian: 1%
• Native American:1%

Misconduct

The Omaha Police Department does their best to conduct their business fairly and keep the people of the city safe from harm. Sometimes cases become known that show the human and corruptible element of the job. One case involved arrests at a home near 33rd and Seward in Omaha. Thirty-two officers encountered uncooperative and non-compliant parties in front of a home. A video was posted on YouTube. Six officers have been fired because of this incident. Sergeant Aaron Von Behren and Officer James Kinsella were charged with obstructing the investigation on May 5, 2013.

See also

• List of law enforcement agencies in Nebraska
• List of U.S. state and local law enforcement agencies
• Crime in Omaha
• Timeline of racial tension in Omaha, Nebraska

References

External links

• Omaha Police Department
• City of Omaha Official Website

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Coordinates: 41°15′19″N 95°56′06″W / 41.25528°N 95.93500°W / 41.25528; -95.93500