Body cameras

In 1996, our department was one of the first in the Omaha metro area to put cruiser cameras in police cars.  In 2018, we transitioned to body cameras.  It is our policy that the body cameras are activated during traffic stops, calls for service, and other citizen contacts. Patrol officers do not have the capability to delete videos from their body cameras or from the retention system.

Random review of video

Each supervisor is required to conduct random reviews of officer video. The supervisor reviews the selected videos to see if the officer handled the situation as trained, or if additional training, coaching, or counseling is necessary. This system also allows for oversight of the supervisor actions by the next level of command to ensure videos are being reviewed and what if any action was taken. Checks and balances are built into the program.

Citizen complaints

We believe the image of our department depends on the personal integrity and discipline of all our employees. To a large degree, the public image of our Department is determined by the professional response to allegations of misconduct against our employees. We believe in competently and professionally investigating all allegations of misconduct by our employees and complaints about our response to community needs. We encourage citizens to bring forward legitimate grievances regarding misconduct by our employees. Citizens should expect that their complaints are received in a courteous manner. Formal written complaints are strongly encouraged. We will however also receive complaints in-person at our station located at 7701 South 96 Street, La Vista, Nebraska 68128, or over the telephone by calling 402-331-1582. Complaints should be made as soon as practicable after the alleged incident has occurred. Investigation will occur upon receipt of the complaint, however failure to report a complaint in a timely manner may hinder the availability of evidence pertinent to the investigation. Complaints may be investigated by a field supervisor, with review at the commander level, or by a Command officer, and finally the Chief of Police. This affords many levels of accountability within our process.