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NE: Unlike predecessors new police chief wants job for ‘many, many years’

By   /   August 14, 2012  /   4 Comments

Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer

By Joe Jordan | Nebraska Watchdog

OMAHA — As expected, Mayor Jim Suttle has named an insider, Deputy Chief Todd Schmaderer, the city’s new police chief.

It’s a pick that finds some critics complaining but also finds the mayor dodging one big bullet.

Schmaderer was chosen over Omaha Police Capt. Greg Gonzalez and two outside candidates.

After a bit of a revolving door at OPD — the three previous chiefs all retired after less than five years at the helm — Schmaderer appears (see video below) ready to serve at least eight years.

He joined OPD in 1996 and, as Nebraska Watchdog, first reported the 40-year-old Schmaderer is not eligible to retire with a full pension until 2021.

“I plan to be here for many, many years,” said Schmaderer.

Critics of the Suttle administration complained that the mayor needed to go outside the department to bring in a fresh set of eyes bent on reforming OPD.

Those reforms include community policing.

Schmaderer told Nebraska Watchdog the critics are wrong and that OPD already practices community policing.

Contact Joe Jordan at joe@nebraskawatchdog.org.

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Joe Jordan

  • Kevin

    This should come as no surprise. What new ideas will Mr. Schmarerer bring to OPD? Nothing that has already been ponied up already. Prepare yourself for more of the same. “many, many years”. Lets see about that. How many years until the minimal retirement time is vested?

  • D. Mark

    Can he enforce all the laws for all the people or will we have the same old Police Department?

  • Jazzee

    Can retire at 45 I think but with less pay more if 50 but then he could do the DROP program and stay and collect a boatload of cash at the end plus his pension.. good luck new chief

  • Dave

    I’ve never seen this guy. I hope he has no problem being a leader, not a status quo guy. He can start by demanding that ALL officers treat everyone with respect, including the youth. (Most already do but there are too many “bad asses” in the department.)
    Good luck, Chief!