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Commissioners lay over $130,622 sheriff grant after public concern over special operations group
Summary
The board voted to delay action on a Nebraska Crime Commission grant that would fund a sheriff's special operations deputy, following public testimony and questions about the unit’s role and oversight. The item was laid over to June 24.
The Douglas County Board of Commissioners on June 3 voted to lay over consideration of a $130,622 grant from the Nebraska Crime Commission intended to fund one deputy position in the sheriff’s Special Operations Group.
Chief Randellis of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office described the request as a state‑funded, one‑year position that would pay “a year’s salary and benefits, for that deputy.” He said the Special Operations Group handles a mix of tasks including narcotics investigations, fugitive apprehension, gang liaison and river operations, and that the funded position would be assigned to that unit.
Commissioners pressed the department on operational boundaries, coordination with the Omaha Police Department and how the unit deploys in city versus unincorporated areas. Captain Christopher Peterson, commander of the nautical services unit, described the unit’s countywide duties including patrol, education, accident investigation and recovery operations on the Missouri River.
The item drew sustained public comment. Lavonne Stanis Williams called the unit a “jump out” squad and urged the board to reject the item, arguing such units have disproportionately harmed Black and Latino communities and citing national cases. Tamika Meese of North Omaha Community Partnership asked the board to delay action until the family of a recent shooting involving the Special Operations Group could review body‑worn camera footage and the county completed its review. Sherman Wells expressed concern that the county’s approach treats social problems as enforcement issues rather than addressing root causes.
Following public testimony and commissioner questions, a commissioner moved to lay the grant over to the June 24 meeting to give the county attorney’s investigation and other reviews time to proceed and to clarify Omaha Police Department coordination. The motion to lay the item over was seconded and passed; one commissioner voted no. Chief Randellis said the sheriff’s office would be given an opportunity to provide additional clarifications at the later date.
