[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6267600,"mediaKeyId","3069256-d6baf9d4f4b0832743dc7b7de1bb355e","parentId",3069256,"title","Corrections director outlines contraband‑detection technology options, Narcan use and mental‑health construction update","audioSeconds",611,"startMs",88000,"endMs",699000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3069256-d6baf9d4f4b0832743dc7b7de1bb355e&start=88&end=699","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3069256-d6baf9d4f4b0832743dc7b7de1bb355e/thumbnail_88000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6267600/Douglas-County/Nebraska/Corrections-director-outlines-contrabanddetection-technology-options-Narcan-use-and-mentalhealth-construction-update","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267600-5468d090dfaa76db706f433f4fe820f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775556664&Signature=jRKFy2ow-CmPVy1ly0JNsAoQt6-EEWNKlFqduageQpr1i80URL4wk7hAuyzpUPMKSPUcD6PbM1fvtSXu9hRZcl0UdNFhG0k~zCGbJbH51lepi2yIk65fJuIijDqOwJCWsLz5oc2ioFa96~XV~5bUl6NkgKbal2Sq38yrzX1QLTVOfvZW5WR27cFTPj0JYqxZJ~nA-sf3bRKjz09gNeuB~Ro31O-bm8TRP34ngfr3-S1E4v8dk12hds7JtdGVwXdMYDC3KCuvEy-T2-2EYRVP2f4y8lBM9qwRYxAcu-78pRleCWfWo1QS91PAQdbcyo3QTqD2UiEC1TrxK6ZBSSwo-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Douglas County, NE","date","2025-04-16T15:51:33Z","article","Mike Myers, director of Douglas County Department of Corrections, briefed the Criminal Justice Committee on several topics including contraband detection technology, opioid antidote options, inmate education and a mental‑health facility construction update.

Myers described three technologies staff are evaluating to limit contraband entering the jail: a millimeter‑wave body scanner (similar to airport scanners) intended for staff, volunteers and contractors; a CT‑style x‑ray scanner for inspecting possessions; and an electronic drug‑identification device described in the meeting as the “Foxhound.” Myers said the millimeter‑wave unit and the CT scanner each are approximately $50,000; the Foxhound was quoted in a range of $40,000 to $80,000 depending on options, and he said all three together would be “under 400,000.” He emphasized these are examples being evaluated and “this has not been put out to bid. This is not an endorsement of this project.”

Myers said the county will investigate whether opioid settlement funds — which other jurisdictions have used for similar purchases — could cover some or all of the costs.

On opioid overdoses and antidotes, Myers reported that county staff began tracking Narcan administrations at the start of the year. He gave month‑by‑month counts: January — 2 people, 6 doses; February — 4 people, 16 doses; March — 5 people, 16 doses. He said Narcan (naloxone) is effective only on opioids and that the county currently receives Narcan from the state at no cost. Myers said the county has a May 1 meeting scheduled with a company called Indivir to discuss a potential pilot of an alternative antidote he named in the meeting as “OPVI” (described as having a longer half‑life but a longer time to initial response than naloxone). He said some agencies in research have used naloxone for quick reversal followed by the longer‑acting antidote to sustain the response.

Myers also provided program updates: the jail reported 36 GED graduates in the past year, 72 active students and 107 people on the GED program wait list; staff said they hope to shorten that wait list. He showed photos and described recent vertical progress on the mental‑health addition adjacent to the existing jail, noting a stair/elevator tower and steel work to connect the existing facility to the new structure.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about whether Narcan administrations were definitely opioid‑related; Myers said most appeared to be opioid‑related but that some hospital toxicology results were not consistently shared back with the jail, and he said the medical department was still analyzing the data.

Ending: Myers requested guidance on funding priorities as staff determine next steps for equipment procurement. No formal vote or commitment to purchase was made at the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Douglas County Criminal Justice Committee Meeting April 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Mike Myers, director of the Douglas County Department of Corrections, told the committee the jail is evaluating a millimeter‑wave body scanner (~$50,000), a CT‑style possessions scanner (~$50,000) and an electronic drug‑identification device called the Foxhound ($40,000–$80,000), and staff will explore using opioid settlement funds to pay for equipment.","taxTitle","Douglas County, Nebraska","taxId",2554,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6267604,"Douglas County weighs replacement and encryption plan for outdoor warning sirens",901,2256000,3157000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3069256-d6baf9d4f4b0832743dc7b7de1bb355e&start=2256&end=3157","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3069256-d6baf9d4f4b0832743dc7b7de1bb355e/thumbnail_2256000.jpg","/articles/6267604/Douglas-County/Nebraska/Douglas-County-weighs-replacement-and-encryption-plan-for-outdoor-warning-sirens","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267604-8a7ed4b5a34424028f282e8bac203b3a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775556664&Signature=Mw1kK5gAPGXp0~87uag9f69yiH53w5vlL3oYJ9BpECBRLG7mUACp4~W92vuPyInSPaX5OHSiNimbiq4E3L9dM2q2KQiUrM4hpWh6CvgJHdDFnkHpmlUDE1QeYY79~wntBM6Vzr8QP5HC0fMeqykVpnYJpSBp4iiIA70CkJFQtbWlpXBTtpbxrKr2fnrqNZVpoBJwwFcxmgPpm3ymILcZK7Ne0OqDtZOWJFKm1CNBsCxxXepBCesMer8a1pg5IeHHZjJXCc-HeeFQYYdFMGE8wAXIF2ENiIt2PB3jcihwGHAvKJiyrvg-W4d9WIGLNR5cjk~Es-B58uASNZZ8Yelhzg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Whitney Shipley, director of Douglas County Emergency Management, told the Criminal Justice Committee on May 1 that the county’s 26 outdoor warning sirens are currently operational but aging, and 17 of them are at or near the end of their service life and no longer have factory replacement parts.

Shipley said the county relies on several public warning systems — National Weather Service wireless phone alerts, weather radio broadcasts and local broadcast media — and that the county’s responsibility is the outdoor siren network. “There are 26 sirens, and I’m thrilled to tell you that as of today, they all work,” Shipley said. She cautioned, however, that 17 units, mostly inherited in approximately the same era, have horns and rotating mechanical parts for which the manufacturer no longer supplies replacement components.

The nut graf: the county must decide whether to start a multiyear replacement plan, maintain the current “fix when it breaks” approach, or remove some sirens from service and rely on alternate warning channels. Those choices carry trade‑offs for cost, maintenance and public notice reliability.

Shipley summarized options and costs: a security/encryption and routine maintenance package to update diagnostics and prevent unauthorized remote activation, she said, would cost about $70,000; replacing an obsolete unit costs roughly $30,000 apiece. She told commissioners one recommended approach was to replace three units initially and use parts from those to keep other at‑risk units operating until a longer plan is funded.

Shipley also said diagnostics are currently limited: the outgoing activation signal works across the network, but approximately half the sirens do not “talk back” to county systems because of radio alignment and maintenance gaps. That reduces the county’s ability to perform predictive maintenance and to confirm remotely whether a given siren actually sounded. She described rising repair costs when a horn or rotor fails and a bucket truck is required for access.

On security, Shipley noted there have been documented cases elsewhere and an uncorroborated report locally that an actor was able to trigger a siren. “It’s been brought to our attention that it has happened here. Someone has cracked the code on how to sound the sirens,” she said. She recommended encryption of siren controllers to reduce the risk of unauthorized activation.

When Commissioner Cavanaugh asked whether FEMA requires sirens, Shipley replied that FEMA’s federally funded public‑warning contributions are the phone alerts and weather‑radio broadcasts and that FEMA does not mandate local sirens or require them as a condition of federal assistance.

Shipley asked the committee to consider whether to include preventive maintenance or a phased replacement program in the county budget cycle and to direct staff whether to prepare a formal long‑term funding plan.

The presentation closed with Shipley offering staff recommendations and a request that commissioners discuss options with budget staff during the upcoming cycle.

Ending: County staff will bring costed options into the budget process; commissioners did not take a formal vote at the meeting.","Whitney Shipley, director of Douglas County Emergency Management, told the Criminal Justice Committee on May 1 that the county’s 26 outdoor warning sirens are operational but 17 are at or near end of life and lack manufacturer replacement parts.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6267589,"County and district courts report staffing gains, rising court‑appointed attorney fees and coming courtroom projects",376,1227000,1603000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3069256-d6baf9d4f4b0832743dc7b7de1bb355e&start=1227&end=1603","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3069256-d6baf9d4f4b0832743dc7b7de1bb355e/thumbnail_1227000.jpg","/articles/6267589/Douglas-County/Nebraska/County-and-district-courts-report-staffing-gains-rising-courtappointed-attorney-fees-and-coming-courtroom-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267589-55f9beb2b3d79014bf1dc43413dc6253/orig.mp4?Expires=1775556664&Signature=kK~7~~-fqH6XB7LyS0oPN03lHrv5VqiQbvxQVn8rG0BiXCMTAg8z4gDQXts8Sp71AsxKLjnQmwAGYSbKQVb1LZoFT9iRFC86LtB-vr0Ntk1UP6TgWeolh2iH9VmZF9HO7LwdYY4WmYbzDqe8onHrAdQGzv4va-A-tp1xz8-tnZxX4d-snqirqdWdEgaaKPWp3w~uTfIj8iWkxXgpEpzhwdSrVv~6Pq-Sd~bqdU1lYgX-mtQ1LjXfkiRaI2sA-q~Z849rmM9rSORi7eiFRsQGipz4O1uiC2iBdwtO-5zroTsPZ2yW9vPgenm4gXuT3~XP9UcgJ1vZ7ajPxfWYaXKzaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pam Cardenas, speaking for county courts, and district court leadership reported staffing and budget updates to the Criminal Justice Committee.

County courts: Cardenas said the court has 12 judges authorized and had been down two judges for several months but is now back to full judicial staffing. She said the clerical complement is authorized at 83 positions and the office is currently down about seven positions (including probate, civil and criminal/traffic clerk roles). Cardenas said court‑appointed attorney fees have surged, requiring a supplemental request, and that county rates for criminal and probate appointment work remain below regional averages; staff are preparing a budget request to raise rates closer to peers.

District court: District court leadership said 18 judges are in place and the district court’s county employee complement is about 41.5 FTEs (state court employees excluded from that count). The district court reported two new courtrooms under construction by the Douglas County Building Commission — one with roughly 84 gallery seats and another with roughly 65 seats — plus a jury assembly space that will seat just under 350 people. The judiciary expects courtroom construction completion in early 2026 and the jury assembly workspace to be usable by mid‑July; the district court also expects to assume administrative payment responsibilities for the Board of Mental Health members effective July 1.

Commissioners asked for anticipated supplemental budget requests for increased court‑appointed attorney rates; Cardenas said a request is being prepared and would be forthcoming for the board to consider.

Ending: No formal action was taken; courts will present formal budget items and supplemental requests to the board in coming weeks.","County and district court leaders told the Criminal Justice Committee that county courts are restoring clerical staff and seeking supplemental funds for court‑appointed attorney fees, while district court is completing two new courtrooms and a jury assembly space due in 2026.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6267594,"Douglas County 911 reports increased applicants; dispatchers down 5 of 49 authorized positions",149,923000,1072000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3069256-d6baf9d4f4b0832743dc7b7de1bb355e&start=923&end=1072","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3069256-d6baf9d4f4b0832743dc7b7de1bb355e/thumbnail_923000.jpg","/articles/6267594/Douglas-County/Nebraska/Douglas-County-911-reports-increased-applicants-dispatchers-down-5-of-49-authorized-positions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267594-a717cc169476ac3a2f828dbb02937d62/orig.mp4?Expires=1775556664&Signature=NxTga2Baltewhp1SPa9e0QXdZuEFj-TrHC5yQNzvthK9Ar1u14qSNhordK~hmC6c2k666dGn5toESTiObzyPxxfKRvjCNF6dPkihvcCYNxV6HFcvsMRkUIemGAoktual6CS08UvT49yMJ13m0RwNMEv-f6LebXYjzjf9xaEmV5mK-Zg0qWk9IYV1uXXD4KtZnQldVkSCIWmeWQ4CeevkGP~a9pFH7-XyBpfCmgkbSjcKthdhS5weJ~kyu~uJTBrLNs-IkTfqDh~H17f2a0hsnAarawqdbDw7lMgjS0bP0ACn2aOCrvnXQUExJcZ9M9e-iWYfUAeb9ujhwrC1wkHABA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kathy Allen, director of Douglas County 911, updated the Criminal Justice Committee on staffing and call‑answer performance.

Allen said the center is answering about 90% of calls within 10 seconds or less, and that recruiting has improved: more than 200 applicants applied for operator/dispatcher roles and staff conducted about 75 interviews. She said the center can be selective because of the stronger applicant pool and that many candidates have prior dispatch experience.

On staffing numbers Allen reported the dispatch authorized level is 49 positions and the center currently has five vacancies; the operator complement is authorized at 19 with two vacancies. She said recent departures were mostly due to retirements and that planned hires from the current recruiting pool should fill authorized staffing levels.

Commissioners asked whether the department’s authorized versus on‑hand staffing figures fluctuate and Allen noted that retirements have driven recent openings; she added that the center’s inability to offer remote work makes the job less comparable with other positions that can be performed from home, but that a return to office‑based hiring has helped the applicant pool.

Ending: Allen said onboarding from the current hiring round should restore the center to authorized staffing; no formal committee action was taken.","Kathy Allen, Douglas County 911 director, told the Criminal Justice Committee the center is answering about 90% of calls within 10 seconds, has received more than 200 applicants for operator/dispatcher roles and has interviewed roughly 75 candidates; the dispatch authorized level is 49 with five vacancies while operator authorizations are 19 with",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6267585,"Sheriff’s office outlines recruiting push, lateral and new‑recruit timelines and upcoming retirements",496,1651000,2147000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3069256-d6baf9d4f4b0832743dc7b7de1bb355e&start=1651&end=2147","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3069256-d6baf9d4f4b0832743dc7b7de1bb355e/thumbnail_1651000.jpg","/articles/6267585/Douglas-County/Nebraska/Sheriffs-office-outlines-recruiting-push-lateral-and-newrecruit-timelines-and-upcoming-retirements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267585-9b9f874ad5c057b6d04cc3d0c54a3ddc/orig.mp4?Expires=1775556664&Signature=OwpxXePE3FK13ezxpTktarJ0abCrZEIkW0QhZ~ANVZvjPKfwe5t--1fEs5eTRqyW6c-ooA7YPvcWm0pwgiEmfhLQ1KRazdSIRsiBsidbfT0C5pO78dCPbQQto-aEWOn9wf2M7B1lfrHJ3lEVLqt7jFA1zVtsmbrUJQNkc3YgWe0vVI2V4E0cMChO96CHiqWpUCIkYnaKJflIOggdo-9locSLvrqxlSiNbFKuJYYA~aCDqn-bH-LrTZS-cOdy6awVN-4dgLLqafuCwLolTVoFPXgsHSOgZzmS79vgPuMZ2ymjc2iWnNiq80O9oc05E93lYJQTkihwuwZRrWkZZAHrjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Deputy Chief Will Nemak of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office briefed the committee on sworn staffing, recruiting and an upcoming new‑recruit timeline.

Nemak said the office currently is three sworn positions below authorized strength and that a lateral‑recruit posting will be open for four weeks; staff plan a new‑recruit posting in August or September ahead of a January 2026 academy class. He reported the office currently has 56 total sworn deputies on staff, and that two recent losses (a failed field‑training outcome and an academy failure) plus an anticipated resignation will affect near‑term staffing. Nemak said six more senior deputies are expected to retire between July and December of the calendar year.

On recruiting, Nemak described a dedicated recruiting website (teamdcs0.org) that provides application and contact information and said the office will distribute business‑card style recruiting cards to deputies so they can give prospective applicants immediate contact information. He said the office is pursuing lateral hires now but will post for new recruits in advance of the 2026 academy and will provide pre‑application resources (physical training guidance and exam prep) on the recruiting site.

When commissioners asked whether the office owns the property where sirens are located (a separate topic in the meeting), Nemak answered operational and recruiting questions and offered to distribute recruiting cards to commissioners who request them.

Ending: Recruiting activity is ongoing; staff will return with candidate pools and hiring outcomes via normal HR processes. No formal action was taken.","Deputy Chief Will Nemak reported the sheriff's office is three sworn employees short of authorized staffing, has open lateral recruitment for the next four weeks and plans a new‑recruit posting in August or September; the office expects six retirements through the remainder of the calendar year and is distributing recruiting materials and a new","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Corrections director outlines contraband‑detection technology options, Narcan use and mental‑health construction update

Douglas County weighs replacement and encryption plan for outdoor warning sirens

County and district courts report staffing gains, rising court‑appointed attorney fees and coming courtroom projects

Douglas County 911 reports increased applicants; dispatchers down 5 of 49 authorized positions

Sheriff’s office outlines recruiting push, lateral and new‑recruit timelines and upcoming retirements