Omaha police union talks staffing and early summer disturbances

Recent responses downtown are sparking concerns for safety as we move into summer.

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‘We have to stop this’: Omaha police union’s concerns over disturbances in early summer months

OMAHA, Neb. —

Recent disturbances around the downtown Omaha area led the police union to seek solutions.

Omaha police are working to bolster their staff, but in the meantime, they call on local partners to help when they need an extra hand.

Officials said around summertime they typically start to see an increase in young people getting into trouble.

Law enforcement is trying to get ahead of the issue, but the Omaha Police Officer’s Association wants to see more boots on the ground.

Recent responses downtown are sparking concerns for safety as we move into summer.

Two weeks ago, Omaha police said officers were called to a 200-person brawl near 11th and Howard streets.

The following Saturday, police arrested two parents after kids were fighting near 11th and Farnam streets.

Then, this past Friday, police confirmed an OPD cruiser was “attacked” overnight by a group of illegal street racers.

Investigators are still working to identify the people involved.

“I think at some point in time, it’s going to come to a head and we’re going to have to use every piece of manpower we have to stop this,” OPOA President Patrick Dempsey said.

Dempsey said OPD needs more bodies to patrol and keep bad behavior at bay.

“We’re still about 100 officers short, roughly,” OPD Deputy Scott Gray said.

He said the department needs 906 officers employed in order to be considered “fully staffed.” He said they just had 35 officers graduate.

“We’re really hopeful that we get several of these 30, 40, 50-member classes, that we’ll be able to catch back up to our authorized strength of 906 fairly soon,” he said.

While Dempsey is excited about this, he still has concerns, saying it will take 15 weeks before the graduates are on their own.

“Won’t be on the streets, with full policing powers and on their own, for another three months, three and a half months,” he said.

Dempsey said with the recent increase in youth disturbances, there should be discussion about parent accountability and more law enforcement presence.

Something Omaha police Chief Todd Schmaderer said will be reflected heading into the College World Series.

“You’re going to see that large presence and even then, some because of the College World Series every night of the College World Series,” Schmaderer said. “So, it’s something we’re taking very serious as well.”

Omaha police said there are curfews they can enforce. City public parks close from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., but Dempsey said we should consider shutting down areas where this behavior happens or having stricter curfews.