Dear Fellow Nebraskans:
This is the first in an occasional series about the work of state agencies. This article is about an agency that is essential in our response to many of the challenges we face in our state every day. The Nebraska State Patrol plays an important and essential role in Nebraska’s public safety efforts.
The idea of a law enforcement agency for the state was first introduced as a bill in the Nebraska Legislature in 1937. When the Division of Highway Safety and Patrol was created, more than 3,500 men applied for positions on the patrol. In the end, 64 candidates completed training and on Nov. 22, 1937, the first 44 officers were sworn in.
Today the Nebraska State Patrol includes nearly 700 troopers and civilian employees and is led by Superintendent Col. Bryan Tuma.
The Field Services Division includes some of the most visible members of the State Patrol. They are primarily responsible for traffic enforcement, with officers patrolling more than 10 million miles in 2008. In addition to working with motorists, troopers enforce regulations for commercial vehicles, operate weigh stations and conduct surprise truck inspections.
The division also includes K-9 and SWAT teams, as well as officers assigned to the patrol's air wing that assist in aerial searches, traffic enforcement and surveying damage from natural disasters such as tornadoes, floods and wildfires.
Within the Investigative Services Division, drug investigators work undercover and collaborate with other law enforcement personnel as part of statewide drug task forces. Criminal investigators work on cases ranging from burglaries and fraud to homicides. The division is also responsible for managing Nebraska’s Sex Offender Registry and working with other law enforcement agencies to monitor sex offenders living in the state.
The State Patrol also operates the State Crime Lab, which aids in investigations and averages more than 4,000 cases a year. Specialists handle DNA testing for all law enforcement agencies in the state, along with ballistics testing, drug and document analysis, and computer forensics. Testing done at the Nebraska crime lab was the first instance in the nation where DNA from a convicted offender was matched to samples in an Ohio case that had no leads.
The Administrative Services Division encompasses a wide range of duties that provide support and additional expertise to the State Patrol’s sworn officers. Two of the major responsibilities include managing the State Patrol’s dispatch system and the Law Enforcement Training Academy, which helps troopers and other officers to maintain skills and share new information with Nebraska’s law enforcement agencies. The Executive Protection Detail provides security for the governor and oversees security at the State Capitol and at other state buildings.
Under Col. Tuma, the State Patrol is working to incorporate new technology in efforts to serve and protect the citizens of our state.
One example is the development of a Fusion Center, which is a cooperative effort between the State Patrol and other law enforcement agencies. The Fusion Center concept will allow for faster exchange of information and intelligence, which will assist officers in crime fighting efforts and will enhance the data analysis capabilities of Nebraska law enforcement agencies.
The State Patrol is also using data driven allocation of resources to help with its traffic enforcement and crime reduction initiatives. Resources are deployed based on data indicating a need to help address traffic violations, motor vehicle crashes and criminal activity. The State Patrol is currently working with local law enforcement in several cities to curb crime through traffic enforcement using the data driven concept.
In addition, the State Patrol has also worked closely with highway safety officials and other law enforcement for several years to promote safety on Nebraska roads. Strong partnerships, increased seat belt usage and high visibility enforcements have helped to lower the number of fatal accidents in Nebraska in recent years.
The motto of the Nebraska State Patrol is “Pro Bono Publico” – for the good of the public, and I want to thank both the troopers and the civilian staff who meet this standard every day in their duties.
