While still a Sarpy County deputy, Tim Otte allegedly collected a debt for an acquaintance.

Sarpy County Sheriff Jeff Davis told Channel 6 News, “On duty, in a cruiser and in uniform, he went to another jurisdiction and was able to get some of the money back.”

Davis confirms Otte resigned earlier this year, but Davis turned the case over to the Sarpy County attorney who sent in on to the attorney general because a Sarpy deputy was involved. Then the Nebraska State Patrol conducted a criminal investigation.

Sheriff Davis provided Channel 6 News with a startling revelation concerning the debt collection by the then on-duty deputy. "We know now it was a drug deal gone bad. I suppose the question that is out there, was he aware of that at the time?"

Channel 6 News Investigated the deputy debt collection case for months and pieced together this account.

Months ago, Otte received a cell phone call from an acquaintance that had gone to an apartment to collect a debt. While on duty, Otte drove his cruiser out of Sarpy County and into Douglas County to the apartment near Ralston. There he found Omaha Police investigating a door break-in. Omaha officers became suspicious as Otte talked to the victim, who later agreed to meet Otte at midnight.

While in his cruiser and still on duty, Otte met with the man at 84th and Harrison in Sarpy County and collected the debt for his acquaintance. It’s believed that was $1,200 in cash.

Omaha attorney Mike Fitzpatrick represents former deputy Otte. He claims the peace officer was trying to be a peacemaker. “Both parties had made threats toward each other. In an effort to make this matter go away, Otte offered to act as a courier.

Fitzpatrick said the deputy didn’t take any of the money for himself. “He didn’t get any cut of the money. This is absolutely not a criminal matter.”

However, Otte faces misdemeanors for oppression under color of law and obstructing government operations. Together the maximum sentence is a year-and-a-half in jail.

Otte will appear in Douglas County Court after the first of the year.

“You want to know when you are dealing with someone who represents themselves to be a police officer that they’re on the up and up," said Sheriff Davis.