Kearney honors volunteer fire officers and presents proclamation, key to departing Police Chief Brian Waugh

The Kearney City Council on May 27, 2025, set aside time during its regular meeting for a badge-pinning ceremony for newly elected officers of the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department and to recognize Police Chief Brian Waugh, who is leaving to serve as superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol.

Fire Chief Aaron Jamieson introduced the department’s annual officer elections, which the department holds on the first Thursday in April in accordance with its bylaws. Jamieson said the department is governed jointly by the City of Kearney and Suburban Fire District No. 1 of Buffalo and Kearney counties and described the department’s leadership structure, including battalion chiefs, captains and lieutenants.

Those recognized in the pinning ceremony included newly elected corporate board member Kent Hergot (seven-year member); newly elected captains Kevin Royal (14-year member) and Mike Treadway (11-year member); and newly selected lieutenants Lucas Fry (six-year member) and Dylan Davis (seven-year member). Deputy Chief Jason Wheeland and Battalion Chief John Seto joined presenters at the podium. Chief Jamieson thanked members and the council for supporting the volunteer department.

Mayor Mary Nicholas and councilmembers offered brief thanks for the volunteers’ service. "I think we all know how time consuming it is just to be a volunteer firefighter," the mayor said, acknowledging the additional responsibilities of officers.

The council then read and presented a proclamation honoring Police Chief Brian Waugh. The proclamation recited Waugh’s 32 years in law enforcement, his service as Kearney’s chief since January 2019, and initiatives launched during his tenure: a citywide automatic license plate reader system used elsewhere in Nebraska, a mental health co-responder program, crime lab improvements, an assigned vehicle program, and expanded interlocal agreements with the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office to help upgrade the public radio communication system and to support combined emergency services and a crisis negotiation unit.

Council members noted Waugh’s selection as superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol and presented a ceremonial key to the city. Chief Waugh spoke, thanking the council and the community and reflecting on six-and-a-half years with the department. He said the department’s accomplishments reflected broad community support and praised the department’s personnel, civil service hiring practices and interagency relationships. Waugh thanked the fire service members present and said he would remain a friend to the department.

The mayor and council characterized the unanimous legislative vote on Waugh’s appointment as a strong endorsement; the meeting transcript indicates the legislature voted 43–0 in favor of his appointment. The council closed the ceremonial portion of the meeting with photo opportunities and thanks to staff.

This was a recognition and ceremonial item; no legislative action or funding decisions related to the recognitions were recorded in the meeting.