Omaha is Growing Faster Than Police Department

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Posted: 5:38 PM Nov 13, 2008
Last Updated: 9:24 PM Nov 13, 2008
Reporter: Jaime McCutcheon
Email Address: sixonline@wowt.com

36 comments

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Numbers compiled by Channel 6 News show the growth in Omaha's police department is not keeping up with the city's population growth. So are people concerned about their safety?

As Margie Magnuson walks us through the neighborhood she's lived in her whole life at 41st and Davenport Streets, talk turns to crime. One of Omaha's latest shootings happened just a mile and a half away.

Margie Magnuson says, "definitely everybody's concerned about it. Not just break-ins, but we've had a lot of murders, not necessarily in our neighborhood, but just surrounding our neighborhood. So I think everybody's really concerned about safety."

Magnuson does say though, she feels safe in her neighborhood. It's an effort to keep it that way that has Magnuson and her neighbors out walking their neighborhood. They started a citizen's patrol a couple of months ago to work as extra eyes and ears for Omaha Police.

Magnuson says, "the police can't be everywhere at one time. I think our big problem is a shortage of police officers."

From numbers compiled by Channel 6 News, the rise in the number of police officers is not keeping up with the rise in the city's population. From 2000 to 2008, the city's population grew by 11%, adding almost 43,000 people. The city's sworn police force only grew by about one-percent, adding 11 officers. The Omaha Police Department right now has 752 sworn officers on staff. Omaha's population is estimated at almost 433,000 people.

With three shootings now in one night, and 11 in five days, police tell Channel 6 News what officers Omaha has are working hard to keep up with crime.

Lt. Darci Tierney with the Omaha Police Department says, "we've definitely stepped up our enforcement. We have a utility crew we can employ that isn't answering radio calls. The gang unit is also out there available, and we're holding officers over on overtime."

Police remind us the public can be a big help in cracking crimes. Be aware of your surroundings and if you see anything suspicious, call police. Also, if you know anything about a crime, call police at (402) 444-7867.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: West Omaha on Nov 17, 2008 at 09:03 PM
Davey D: Note I placed a ?? after the 40 number- yes they have solved some, I still say the closing rate is awful. The example I mentioned - the Hunter/Sherman murders saw LOTS of cooperation, hundreds of tips etc. The police acknowledged very few of them - I had to have Jim Vokal intervene with OPD to get an acknowledgment of what I felt was a valid tip in this case. I and others had some reason to think the killer was someone one of the victims met on line- so far as anyone knows those records were never checked. It's not the fault of the police and in many cases due to lack of cooperation from the public. Its just plain simple underfunding and understaffing.

Posted by: J on Nov 17, 2008 at 12:03 AM
I have read most of these coments youknow what they are right.The chicken cops are scared of for what they do not do . The cowards

Posted by: Davey D on Nov 15, 2008 at 07:21 AM
To West Omaha...I am pretty sure OPD has solved more than one murder. You say there are 40 unsolved? Go back and count again. As a LE officer (I live in Omaha but work for an agency in lancaster co) there are prbably ways to streamline the process to get more officers on the street. Less "detectives" who spend their times indoors. A poster below said it takes 4 hrs for a DUI and two officers. We can do a DUI with one officer and it does not take more than 2-3 hrs (paperwork included). It also does not take more than 15 minutes to book someone in jail. All that being said; if no one COOPERATES with the police (victims, witnesses) how are we supposed to arrest the party responsible?

Posted by: meo!my on Nov 15, 2008 at 03:03 AM
FAHEY, DAUB, WHOEVER- STOP BUILDING THE NEW STADIUM UNTIL YOU GET MORE POLICE OFFICERS OUT TO DEAL WITH ALL THE CRIME GOING ON!! OTHERWISE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TONS OF EMPTY SEATS. WHO'S GOING TO WANT TO COME TO OMAHA IF THEY FEAR FOR THEIR SAFETY?

Posted by: Jim on Nov 14, 2008 at 08:17 PM
The title should read Omaha is Growing Faster Than Police Department has police go on retirement. I wonder if we would have had more police on the active force if there was not so much money paid to the retirees after spiking there pay.

Posted by: West Omaha on Nov 14, 2008 at 06:39 PM
How many unsolved murders now?? 40 ?? This is a disgrace. This hit home to me earlier this year, I have family living in Dundee close to where the housekeeper and boy were murdered. That crime has largely been forgotten. So far as anyone close to it knows, they never checked the computers of either victim! Probably did not have the funding or staff. Someone just walked away from that just like from all the other murders in Omaha. Until those in power start taking police funding more seriously than pet projects they can advetise all they want to attract business and ocnventions here- they wont come so long as this city is a cesspool.

Posted by: FYI on Nov 14, 2008 at 03:30 PM
FACT--Elkhorn is divided into 2 districts and the officers assigned there are to stay there. It is probably the best covered part of town.

Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 14, 2008 at 01:39 PM
More tax revenue shrinking police force = more money for Fahey to spend on pet projects. Like Brian said, people have no control over what the politicians do. Do they?

Posted by: Current on Nov 14, 2008 at 12:22 PM
I would like to start off by saying, I'm a current police officer in a community on the out skits of Omaha with 5 plus years of experience. I have talked to several officers I work with and with other officers in the area. I know for a fact if OPD started to run lateral classes again and their hiring process wasn't as long and time consuming as it currently is several of us would apply. Omaha should look at what the City of Lincoln has done to add experienced officers. The academy time has been cut down to four weeks and the hiring process has went from six months to a year, down to less than 3 months. Yes Lincoln is smaller than Omaha, but look at Lincoln's background unit of 2 to 3 compared to Omaha's 10 plus. I'm not going to talk down another agency's street officers because they can only do what they are allowed to do by their administration. I know the street level officers on the job in Omaha bust their back sides everyday and they need more help.

Posted by: to emily on Nov 14, 2008 at 11:39 AM
Ive taken and passed the OPD test, and I am one of the those so called "minorities and women" they were strongly recruiting that have been greeted with a letter at the end of the third step with a thanks for your time letter. . . they arent desparate for QUALITY officers.

Posted by: Brian on Nov 14, 2008 at 09:49 AM
When are we going to stop blaming the City and PD? When are we going to take responsibility? We have had to many people out there raising kids with bad parenting skills. Young kids having kids and people allowing there kids to run the streets with no displine. Why do we always blame the top of the ladder? Why can't the middle and the lower ever take any responsibility. Look at all the in state people dropping their kids off at the hospitals. Its no the City or the PD that have the problems its Society. I know the PD is trying to beef up its numbers. I have 2 friends set start the Academy in December. The more officers we put on the streets means more taxes we have to pay. So how many people will complain about that? I think more people will then about crime! LETS TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY AND TAKE BACK OUR CITY FROM THE CRIMINALS AND HELP CITY NOT DOWN GRADE THEM.

Posted by: m on Nov 14, 2008 at 09:17 AM
I remember Fahey saying that Elkhorn would have the same protection they had before the annexation. RIGHT!!!! One more lie that he told.

Posted by: Emily on Nov 14, 2008 at 08:40 AM
The city actually has approved funding for 802 in the police department. They're just not filled.

Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 14, 2008 at 08:35 AM
Maybe the city could afford to hire more officers if it wasn't paying out all those astronomical retirement benefits.

Posted by: Hey J on Nov 14, 2008 at 08:35 AM
Hey, J, Omaha just wanted your property tax money for their public schools. The NE Omaha public schools are in areas where the junk properties don't result in enough tax revenue to fund their schools, so they had to come steal your money.

Posted by: Tony on Nov 14, 2008 at 08:14 AM
First, thank you to all of the police officers in Omaha who truly do care about the job they do (and it is a dangerous one)! Now, as I see things, Omaha was more concerned with getting fancy-a_ _ manhole covers than protecting it's citizens. More concerned about a pedestrian bridge than it's people. More concerned about gobbling up Elkhorn than it's people. More concerned about setting up task forces (which, by the way are a tremendous waste of time and money since nothing is ever done with their recomendations). All in all, Omaha leaders are very concerned. Too bad it's for all the wrong reasons. Take care of your people Fahey. I for one am glad you are leaving. Omaha is turning into a city like Detroit-lets not let that happen. Do whatever it takes to protect your citizens. My greatest fear is that people will start to take the law into their own hands-wait a minute-fear? Maybe we do need a little vigilante type justice. At least something would be done.

Posted by: M on Nov 14, 2008 at 08:09 AM
OPD has been hiring a ton of new officers, and, hopefully, they will continue to do so until they are able to adequately protect our community.

Posted by: concerned omahan on Nov 14, 2008 at 08:00 AM
I don't care how many specialty units and overtime the department puts out there as a "knee jerk reaction" bottom line is that there are not enough police officers. Some tough decisions must be made about priorities within the city. Are there really 752 officers? Hasn't there been a bunch of retirements in the last year? The citizens of Omaha (and not just the ones that live in high crime areas) deserve adequate police protection. Maybe that should be a topic for the council and the mayor to focus on and make happen instead of a new baseball field and such...

Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 14, 2008 at 07:24 AM
Do any of the people of Omaha question the training and ability of the Omaha Police Force? So many murders and so many unsolved. It starts at the top and maybe their needs to be some house cleaning and some better training. If the news media would do some research they will find that the clearance rate for homicides stinks. I knew homicide detectives some years ago and they never would have had this kind of clearance rate that we are now seeing. Anothe thing that needs to be explored is what is the conviction rate of those arrested. Are they receiving lesser time in jail due to the police not going around the block? Just questions that should be explored and presented to the public. The next mayor whoever it will be will have his hands full in an economy downturn and a high crime rate in the omaha metro area.

Posted by: Brian on Nov 14, 2008 at 07:18 AM
To Tim: Have you beaten down the Mayor's door and Police chief's door? Didn't think so. And what's the point of it all anyway. The government will or will not do what it wants to do and the sheeple will allow it.

Posted by: reality check on Nov 14, 2008 at 06:59 AM
Perhaps the Chief should be on the job instead of wasting tax money in San Diego. There are a lot of other cops that could be on patrol and doing police work instead of getting fat behind desks or at some convention somewhere that is a waste. Geez, if the cops the are actually working would actually do their jobs would be a help too.

Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 14, 2008 at 06:33 AM
How is it O.P.D. can "show up" with 50 plus strong when an "officer down" goes over the radio but cry shortage when an every-day Joe the Citizen is shot? Perhaps its quality and caring officers we need and not more of them!

Posted by: William on Nov 14, 2008 at 02:00 AM
When Omaha annexed The City of Elkhorn they fired several good police officers and made a 10 plus man police department into one district that's not even covered half the time. Omaha is now not keeping up with promises it made when they took over Elkhorn let alone the safety of the rest of the city. I don't understand why OPD cut good trained certified police officers, every little bit helps. I'm not saying hire bad officers, but make some lead way with certified officers and don't use the cop out that "They don't meet OPD standards." OPD should hire a few lateral classes so they can save tax payers money and have trained experienced officers out on the streets faster. There isn't a lack of certified applicant's OPD just need to open their eyes and do more common sense hiring.

Posted by: bill on Nov 14, 2008 at 01:06 AM
All of the comments her do nothing but point out the obvious. I think most of us are well educated to read what the story already says. Instead of doing this, why don't we focus on solutions rather than creating more dissention. Use these clear problems to come up with a better way.

Posted by: a on Nov 14, 2008 at 12:08 AM
What is the authorized number, over 800. The department will never get to full strength because of budget. The city knew about the mass retirement well in advance, and choose not to pay new hires until the old ones were gone. Now the police will be short handed for years to come. I know first hand that Elkhorn does not have a problem with crime. Most days, there are no calls for the police, so don't cry that your services have fallen. A car parked the wrong way on the street doesn't mean the police need to be there in five minutes. Elkhorn gets better service than the rest of the city, they have officers that are not allowed to leave the area to respond calls in other parts of the city. People also need to realize that when its reported that the police have 752 officers, it is misleading. This number includes the chief, detectives, administrative officers etc.. less than half of 752 work the streets, covering 3 shifts, different schedules.

Posted by: not going to say on Nov 13, 2008 at 10:25 PM
I'm so happy I moved away from that dump 3 years ago. Omaha is a dirty little town. Crime ridden cess pool of filth.

Posted by: Retired Omaha Cop on Nov 13, 2008 at 10:16 PM
Fahey has always favored the Omaha Fire Department, cuz they got him elected. Keep in mind OPD never supported him, and they've paid the price. Fahey's allowed OPD to become understaffed during his term. Kudo's to WOWT for doing this story. Somehow I think the Omaha Police Union had something to do with it.

Posted by: Greg2 on Nov 13, 2008 at 09:13 PM
Get the officers out of those specialty units and in cruisers. Streamline the booking procedures so they don't spend three hours on every arrest. Reduce the number of reports required for every little task they accomplish. Quit teaching officers to concentrate on trying to arrest borderline DUI's who may have had 4 light beers and register .08 while they could be on patrol. A DUI takes four hours or more to process and takes at least two officers off the street, then takes them off the street again and again for court appearances. Officers don't stop crime by speaking to third grade kids in school or sitting in the teachers lounge in a high school. They don't affect crime by attending "community meetings" listening to the same people complain over and over again complaining about their special interest problems that the police don't handle. The politicians just use the police to keep the public off their backs. This isn't rocket science folks.

Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 13, 2008 at 09:10 PM
Thank you Mayor Fahey for spreading a police department that was already short handed even further out. I think we can all take a good bet as to why Fahey isn't running again. Unfortunately there are just too many in our city who think that the laws only apply to others and who do not value human life.

Posted by: Keith on Nov 13, 2008 at 09:09 PM
Won't be long, Bullet Proof vest will be all the fashion craze.

Posted by: Jamie on Nov 13, 2008 at 08:15 PM
I thought when Omaha forced their way into Elkhorn Fahey had all the answers to that concern. Anyone else remember this issue being raised at that time?

Posted by: Ralph on Nov 13, 2008 at 07:52 PM
Tim is correct, the police are purely reactionary. The city leaders do need to be held accountable. Simply said there are NOT enough officers to respond to radio calls let alone prevent crimes. It is not safe for the the patrol officers.

Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 13, 2008 at 07:38 PM
How unfortunate that the real issue probably lies in funding.

Posted by: Tim on Nov 13, 2008 at 06:57 PM
The violence in this city is out of control. Where is the accountability? Why are people not banging down the mayor's and police chief's doors and demanding they be held accountable. Why are we just responding to crime instead of preventing it? I think it shows a complete lack of leadership in this city. The citizens and families of Omaha deserve better.

Posted by: J from Bennington on Nov 13, 2008 at 06:15 PM
The people in Elkhorn can tell you ALL about the lack of a police presence, where once they were well protected. Omaha has no coherent annexation plan, which accounts for all those gaps as its tentacles reach out to the west and to new shopping areas. How can law enforcement agencies possibly keep boundaries straight and Omaha's citizens adequately protected? OPD is spread entirely too thin. How do you provide property protection out in Elkhorn, respond to an accident on L Street, provide resource officers to the schools and bust up the crack houses in North Omaha and not burn out the police force you have?