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Law Enforcement
For sixteen
years, from 1978 through 1995, I was a career law enforcement officer.
During that time, I gained many experiences, made many friends,
and observed many situations and circumstances that most people
in ordinary careers do not see first hand. Overall, I learned a
different perspective that most people don't have. Here are some
memories of that career.
Chief
of Police, Randal R. Schulze
Village of Arlington, Washington County, Nebraska
Photo takan about 1984
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Career
Summary
Police
Patrol: Public Service,
Crime Detection and Suppression, Preservation of the Peace,
Traffic Enforcement.
Criminal
Investigation: Investigation of Crimes against
Persons or Properties and Drug Related Crimes.
Criminal
Intelligence: Collection, maintenance, and dissemination
of criminal intelligence information. Served as Intelligence
Coordinator for the Omaha Region (LEIN Region 7,) of the
State of Nebraska.
Administrative
Services: Supervised administrative functions of
the department, including management and development of
computer systems and applications. Formulate and develop
written departmental policies, prepare grant proposals,
supervise projects funded by state and federal grants. Served
as representative to Douglas County 911 Steering Committee.
Chief
of Police: Supervision and management of small,
semi-rural law enforcement agency. In addition to basic
police functions, performed supervision and management of
personnel, maintenance of records, development of policy,
and civil defense operations.
Public
Safety - 911 Communications Operator and Dispatcher:
First line contact with the public for requests for emergency
services including Law Enforcement, Fire, and Emergency
Medical Services. Responsible for the operation of public
safety radio, telephone, Teletype, and computers in a county
wide 911 system and the development and implementation of
operating policies and procedures used by law enforcement
agencies and 911 communications agencies.
Agency
Affiliations
Washington
County Sheriff's Office,
Blair, Washington County, Nebraska
Kearney Police Department,
Kearney, Buffalo County, Nebraska
Gibbon Police Department,
Gibbon, Buffalo County, Nebraska
Buffalo County Sheriff's Office,
Kearney, Buffalo County, Nebraska
Shelton Police Department,
Shelton, Buffalo County, Nebraska
Hall County Department of Communications and Civil Defense,
Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska
Wood River Police Department,
Wood River, Hall County, Nebraska
Arlington Police Department,
Arlington, Washington County, Nebraska
Valley Police Department,
Valley, Douglas County, Nebraska
Elkhorn Police Department,
Elkhorn, Douglas County, Nebraska
Lake Lotawana Police Department,
Lake Lotawana, Jackson County, Missouri
Lee's Summit Police Department,
Lee's Summit, Jackson County, Missouri
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War
Stories
Why
Did I Become a Cop?: Sixteen
Years Behind the Badge, 1978 to 1995
"How did this Rock and Roll Fanatic end up wearing a badge?!"
The
New Job: Washington
County Sheriff's Office, Winter 1978
The first thing I noticed was how heavy the badge felt on my shirt.
On
Patrol with Bob Goodwin: Washington
County Sheriff's Office, Spring 1979
"It's our job to protect the morals of our county..."
Radio
Skip: Washington
County Sheriff's Office, July 1979
Weather and atmospheric conditions can do strange things to radio
signals.
You
Don't Mess Around With Jim: Washington
County Sheriff's Office, August 1979
We used to joke around the office that the saying, “You
Don’t Mess Around with Jim” referred specifically
to Sheriff, Jim Kelly.
Christmas:
Kearney 911 and Buffalo County Sheriff's Office, December 1979
It turns out that I’d never experienced a Christmas before
or since where I felt so cold and alone…
Grand
Island Tornado: Kearney 911 and Gibbon Police, June
1980
As far as being a police officer goes, I was good at the job, but
I was very new to this area and had very, very little experience.
Wrestling
With the Animal: Wood River Police Department, Summer
1981
Welcome to Wood River!
Noise
Disturbance : Hall County Department of Communications
/ GIEC, Fall 1981
I'd never had an officer refuse a call for service before...
Broken
Leg : Wood River Police Department, February 1982
Nothing like an On-The Job Injury to make your day.
The
Academy : Wood River Police Department, September -
December 1982
I was so proud, and I'm still proud to this day!
First
Pursuit : Wood River Police Department, October 1982
This was a good lesson learned.
Partners,
Episode 1: Arlington Police Department, November 1983
“Hey! You told me you like your coffee that way!”
The
Glowing Tombstone: Arlington Police Department, 1984
Clearly, this had all gotten out of hand.
Dead
Cop Car: Arlington Police Department, Spring 1984
Everything would be fine until you had to put your foot to the floor,
and the damned thing would die!
Small
Town - Big Crime: Arlington Police Department, Summer
1984
By and large, crime was not a major issue in this sleepy little
town. The sleepy little town was about to suddenly be made to wake
up!
Arlington
City Council: Arlington Police Department, Winter 1984
You’ve heard the term that you “were seeing red.”
Now I know where this came from.
Little
Big Town: Valley Police Department, 1985 through 1993
...And this was only my first two weeks!
United
States Highway 275: Valley Police Department, 1985
through 1993
All of this was coming off United States Highway 275 and running
through our community!
Courts,
Judges, Lawyers, and Hearings: Valley Police Department,
1985 through 1993
"Yes. You will see me in Court!"
Feds:
Arlington Police Department, March 1984 and Valley Police Department,
February 1986 and November 1990
“Hello. We’re from the Government. We’re here
to help…”
One
of the Times I Almost Bought It: Valley Police Department,
August 1987
Good Thinking. It probably saved your life!
Terry
Stop : Valley Police Department, Spring 1988
While there were no specific traffic offenses, this was suspicious
to me for the following reasons...
Spotlight
on the Valley Police Department: Valley Police Department,
October 1988
Magazine Article About the Valley Police Department.
Coffee
Grounds: Valley Police Department
May 1988 or 1989
One
of my co-workers asked me what had been the most horrific incident
I had been involved in as a police officer.
* * WARNING * * Contains descriptions of graphic violence.
The
Edge of the Known Universe: Valley Police Department,
Summer1988
In 1988, the Omaha City Limits at Maple Street were more or less
at about 114th Street.
Beaver
Patrol: Valley Police Department, Fall 1988
Not on company time and / or furniture, and that included police
cars.
Another
Bar Fight: Valley Police Department, 1989
"I think we're going to need more help!"
Parking
in the Park: Valley Police Department
August 1989
The
thing that will piss off a citizen more than anything else, is to
write them a parking ticket.
Incident
on the Union Pacific: Valley
Police Department Fall 1989
Lucky
for these guys that none of them were injured, but their car was
pretty messed up!
Officer
Twitchy: Valley Police Department
May 1990
Some people just seem to have
a knack for pissing other people off…
Bachlor
Party in a U-Haul: Valley Police
Department Spring 1990
"Officer
Shelton, Do you see anything wrong here?"
Death
Valley Days: Valley Police Department
Summer 1990
It
was difficult not to refer the Town Celebration as Death
Valley Days…
Strange
Pursuit: Valley Police Department,
September 1990
Any law enforcement officer will tell you that ALL high speed vehicle
pursuits are dangerous. In addition to being dangerous, this case
got real strange.
"Kill
da Wabbit": Valley Police
Department, October 1990
Poaching is a very serious issue in Nebraska, and the Game and Parks
commission, as well as many other law enforcement agencies take
it very seriously.
Full
Moon Over Valley: Valley Police
Department, Spring 1991
You never know what you're going to come across...
More
Fun With Parking Tickets: Valley
Police Department, January 1992
Personally, I was not a real hard case when it came to parking violations…
Raid!:
Valley Police Department, May 1992
So the Search Warrant wasn't a total bust.
Stupid
Criminals : Valley Police Department,
May 1992
Over time, I came to the conclusion that many criminals committed
crimes because they were too stupid to hold a real job…
"To
Vest or Not to Vest": Valley
Police Department, August 1992
While putting on my uniform, I paused to consider the Kevlar, bullet
proof vest.
Cops,
Computers, and a New Career: Valley
Police Department and Beyond. 1995 to Today
It took me awhile to transition from Police Officer to Civilian,
but I still observe the world around me with the eyes of a cop.
(Contrubution by Frank Vondra, Bellvue PD, Retired)
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