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Omaha Police Department

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Omaha Police Badge

The Omaha Police Department, commonly known as the OPD, is 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's 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 currently at a strength of 765 officers covering an area of 118.9 square miles and a popluation of 390,007 people (2000 census). It's current chief of police is Thomas Warren.

Organization

Command Structure

The OPD is headed by a chief of police, who is appointed by the Mayor of Omaha with approval by the Omaha City Council. Below the chief in rank are four deputy chiefs, whom each have an exclusive area of responsibility within the department.

Patrol Area

The city of Omaha is dividing into quadrants by the department, with a precinct in each quadrant; Northeast, Southeast, Northwest, and Southwest. The department is also responsibile for law enforcement at Eppley Airfield, Omaha's primary airport.

Specialized Divisions and Units

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

  • Burlary
  • Child Abuse/Neglect
  • Criminal Intelligence
  • Emergency Response Unit (SWAT Team)
  • Fugitive Unit
  • Homicide
  • Internal Affairs
  • Narcotics
  • Organized Crime
  • Robbery
  • Vice

History

On February 12, 1857, the city of Omaha was incorporated, three years after the village was laid out. On March 5 of that same year, J.A. Miller was appointed the City Marshall. In March 1866, the force was enlarged by the city council to four men.

In 1868, the position of "Police Judge" was created and John H. Sahler was appointed to fill that role. Later that same year, the City Council directed members of the force to provide themselves with "dark blue, single breasted coats, shirts and pants of the same material. They were required to have caps with a brass plate in the front marked City Police." Between 1869 and 1882 the size of the department fluctuated until it grew steadily from 14 officers starting in 1882.

In 1884, Marshal Roger T. Guthrie was convicted and imprisoned for acceptable a bribe.

On September 28, 1919, the Omaha Riot took place. The riot stemmed over allegations against Will Brown, an african-american Omaha citizen, of raping a white woman. Omaha Mayor Edward Smith was lynched although he ultimately survived the ordeal. Brown was brutally lynched, his body riddled with bullets from the rioters and burned to death. The Douglas County Courthouse was destroyed by fire as a result of the rioters attempts to flush out Brown and the police officers attempting to protect him. Unable to control the situation, Omaha Police requested assistance from the United States Army, and by September 29, martial law was institued and enforced by 1,700 soldiers. [1]

In 1923, a separate motor force unit was created and "pill boxes" were installed throughout the city. Some pill boxes are in service as of 2005. That same year, the United States' first safety patrol was instituted by the department to address concerns over protecting Omaha children walking to and from school.

In 1941, the department chose a distinctive badge design. The design is still used as of 2005.

Officer Larry Minard was killed on August 17, 1970 by a bomb place by members of the Black Panther organization. The Omaha Police Department was heavily involed in the the FBI's COINTELPRO operation, and using evidence from COINTELPRO, Panthers David Rice and Ed Poindexter were convincted for Minard's death and are currently serving life sentences to date.

On August 21, 1995, 24 year old Omaha Police Officer Jimmy Wilson Jr. was shot to death by Kevin Allen, a member of the South Family Bloods street gang. Wilson initiated a traffic stop of Allen's van, when Allen opened the rear doors and opened fire with an AK-47 assault rifle. Wilson was found dead in his cruiser with his seatbelt still on and his radio in his hand. [2] Wilson's death led to the creation (by his father, Jimmy Wilson Sr.) of the Jimmy Wilson Jr. Foundation, a non-profit organization which assisted area law-enforcement agencies with purchasing body armor and dashboard cameras for cruisers.

On September 11, 2003 30 year old Officer Jason Tye Pratt, pulled a vehicle over at 10:30 PM for speeding and erratic driving. The driver of the vehicle was 21 year old Albert Rucker, a fugitive wanted by police on two felony warrants and who had been recently featured on Omaha's version of a "Most Wanted" television show, Crimestoppers. Rucker had 141 arrests on his record [3] by that time and was a gang member that went by the street name of "Twigs." When Rucker pulled over, he got out of his vehicle and fled the scene. Pratt pursued Rucker on foot to an open field, where Rucker shot him in the head at close range with a 45 caliber handgun. Rucker then engaged backup officers in a shootout after which he was wounded when police returned fire. Rucker died four hours later in the hospital. Officer Pratt died 8 days later on September 19.

The incident gained national attention. On a visit to Omaha with Pratt's widow, Stacy, and his family, US Attorney General John Ashcroft stated "the justice system had failed Pratt and her two daughters" after it was learned that Rucker appeared before the same Douglas County District Judge, Sandra Dougherty, since 1999, who continously lowered Rucker's bond each time appeared before her. Rucker was arrested in 1999 for a shooting and was apprehended wearing a bullet proof vest. His sentence, handed down by Dougherty, was three years probation.

Controversies and allegations of excessive force

Like many law enforcement agencies around the United States, Omaha Police has had their share of controversies, allegations of racially motivated excessive force, and nepotism. Not all instances of officer shootings involving Omaha Police have involved white officers and minority suspects, however several incidents have led to strained relations between the department and the African-American community.

Marvin Ammons Shooting

During a routine traffic stop on October 26, 1997, Officer Todd Sears shot and killed Marvin Ammons. Sears, a white police officer, stated he believed Ammons, an African American Gulf War veteran, was reaching for a gun in his belt when he (Sears) drew his weapon and opened fire. Ammons was found with a cellular phone.

A first grand jury called according to Nebraska law (a grand jury is called when any death occurs while in police custody) indicted Sears on charges of manslaughter, however the indictment was thrown out due to juror misconduct. A second grand jury cleared Sears of all charges, however criticzed Omaha Police in their handling of the incident, noting that (1)Ammons' cell phone was found in Sears' cruiser the day after the shooting; (2) drug and alcohol testing was not performed on the officers at the scene, including Sears, in accordance with policy; (3) Sears' cruiser was not impounded. [4] A lawsuit against the City of Omaha and Sears was brought by the Ammons family but was later dropped. Sears left the department on a disability pension, claiming post traumatic stress disorder.

George Bibbins Shooting

On July 19, 2000, after a high speed chase involving a stolen Jeep, Officer Jerad Kruse shot and killed the driver, 46 year old George Bibbins. Kruse, a white officer, stated he observed Bibbins, an African-American citizen, reaching down after the Jeep was forced to a stop when he opened fire. Bibbins was found dead with a screwdriver in his hand.

The incident was investgated by a grand jury and Kruse was cleared of any wrongdoing, which led to outrage not only in the African-American community, but also among Afican-American Omaha Police Officers. This incident, along with the Marvin Ammons shooting, led to a strained relationship between the department and the Omaha African-American community. Kruse, like Sears, also left the department with a disability pension.

Tariq Al-Amin

At a memorial service for Albert Rucker (see Omaha Police history in this article), Bishop William Barlowe offered the family of Officer Jason Tye Pratt a check for $100 to add to the Pratt Family Assistance Fund in the name of Rucker's children. During the memorial service Rucker, Barlowe said, "We have two sets of kids who will be aligned forever because of this incident."

Omaha Police Officer Tariq Al-Amin, while hosting the cable access televsion show Protecting the Village (on his off duty time), angrily reacted, stating "This would be my gift to the Rucker children," while brandishing a straight razor. "When you get old enough, go get it and cut Barlowe's throat for doing something like that in your name."

After the program was reviewed by Police Chief Thomas Warren, he terminated Al-Amin with the justification that Al-Amin threatened Barlowe. Al-Amin, citing his First Amendment rights appealed to the City Personnel Board, and with backing and support of the Omaha Chapter of the NAACP, the Coalition Against Injustice, Black Men United, and Rev. Al Sharpton's [[National Action Network. Al-Amin was reinstated by the personnel board on February 26, 2004 and the City of Omaha decided not to appeal the decision.

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