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The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office is the sixth largest law enforcement agency in Nebraska, with an operating budget of approximately $16.4 million.

The office is responsible for enforcing the law in rural areas of the county and in towns and villages without municipal police departments. It employs 84 sworn officers, 22 civilian employees and eight security guards.

The office investigates criminal offenses and traffic accidents, enforces traffic laws and serves as a representative of the county coroner in death investigations.

Other duties include collecting delinquent property taxes, execution of complex court orders, extradition of prisoners from other states, providing security services to county and district courts, serving civil process and warrants and transporting jail prisoners.

The salary for the sheriff in 2023 will be $155,000.

For the first time since his election in 1994, Republican Terry Wagner is facing challengersĚý— Democrat Johnny "Jay" Pitts Jr. of Lincoln and Libertarian Conan Thomas of Hickman.

Age: 68

Address: 2320 The Knolls

Occupation: Lancaster County Sheriff

Political party:Ěý¸é±đ±čłÜ˛ú±ôľ±ł¦˛ą˛Ô

Website:Ěý

What experiences qualify you for this office?

I have been with the sheriff's office for 46 years, 27 of them as sheriff, having been elected to seven terms of office. I am past president of the Nebraska Sheriffs Association, was inducted into the NSA Hall of Fame 2021, a graduate of the FBI National Academy, a former member of the Nebraska Police Standards Advisory Council, a founding member of the Child Advocacy Center and a board member for 24 years of Peoples Choice (now LincOne) Federal Credit Union.

If elected, what would be your top priorities and why?

* Recruiting and hiring the most qualified people as deputy sheriffs. Making sure our deputies know I will fight to provide them with the latest tools to do their jobs.

* Keeping abreast of technology advancements in law enforcement. A number of years ago we started our Electronic Evidence Unit. Continuing to enhance the capabilities of the unit through advanced training for the deputies as well as getting the equipment and software needed to maintain the high level of competency is crucial.

Describe the importance of diversity in policing. What steps, if any, will you take to further diversify the sheriff’s office?

Law enforcement has traditionally been a white male profession and we need to do a better job of recruiting. The first obstacle is that our hiring practices are governed by state statute through the Merit Commission. I can only hire from the top three candidates. The second hindrance is minority communities tend to ostracize people if they get hired. We somehow need to convince minority communities and leaders they need to embrace any members that become law enforcement officers.

As attitudes toward policing evolve, what steps will you take to ensure the sheriff’s office maintains a trusting relationship with the community?

People need to know they will be treated with dignity, respect and fairness. We have revamped our mission statement to continue to emphasize those core values in all facets of our training. Being involved in community activities helps put a human face on the uniform.

What steps would you take to recruit and retain officers?

We have retained a marketing firm to assist in getting our message out when we are recruiting. Word of mouth through the law enforcement community, paired with a culture of service, has helped get more applicants.

Do you support allowing citizens to carry concealed weapons without a permit? Why or why not?

The carry concealed process has not caused problems for deputies. My colleagues in other states that have constitutional carry have not seen added dangers to officers or the public. Citizens who are legally able to possess firearms and take the time to gain proficiency are not the problem. Criminals are going to continue to carry firearms regardless of their legal status to do so. They are, and will continue to be the problem.

Age: 42

Address:Ěý850 Larkspur Drive, Hickman

Occupation:ĚýRetired Military Police Corps

Political party:ĚýLibertarian

Website:Ěý

What experiences qualify you for this office?

I’ve conducted law enforcement duties stateside and in multiple foreign nations. I’ve been a correction officer, a military working dog handler and kennel master. I've protected people's lives and property by enforcing laws and regulations. I have experience leading company, platoon, squad and team-size elements. I've coordinated logistics, issued uniforms and weapons and conducted weapons training. I developed and implemented standard operating procedures and police regulations. My efforts resulted in restoring order and being able to rebuild war-torn nations.

If elected, what would be your top priorities and why?

If I’m elected my top priorities will be to deputize every sound-mind person in Lancaster County regardless of race, creed or political affiliation. Anyone with commonsense can see the U.S. president is attacking his political adversaries and calling them terrorists. The last time a president did this in the USA was during the Civil War. Politicians believe themselves to be above the average person. I’m going to give the people the same power I will have as sheriff.

Describe the importance of diversity in policing. What steps, if any, will you take to further diversify the sheriff’s office?

says Lincoln is broken into white, 81.2%, Hispanic, 6.9%, Black, 4.3%, Asian, 4.4%, mixed, 2.6%. People of all backgrounds are welcome to work at the sheriff’s office if they so choose and meet qualifications. I will be deputizing all walks of life when I become sheriff. I am of Jewish and African descent. I see no barriers when it comes to race or religion. We’re all brothers and sisters in God’s eyes. My mission is unity for freedom.

As attitudes toward policing evolve, what steps will you take to ensure the sheriff’s office maintains a trusting relationship with the community?

As sheriff I will maintain a trusting relationship with the community by deputizing everyone who lives in the county. There will be both paid sheriff’s deputies as well as volunteer deputies. There will be both paid and volunteer police investigations being ran out of my office. I aim to work side by side with the people and for them so that we may always be a free people.

What steps would you take to recruit and retain officers?

As with any managerial position, certain aspects are required to achieve success. The environment is ever-changing for law enforcement officers. These people must be a representation of who I am and they must understand that they are there because of the people who voted for me. I will treat deputies with the uppermost respect. I will ensure they have the gear, equipment and training needed to achieve operational success.

Do you support allowing citizens to carry concealed weapons without a permit? Why or why not?

I support allowing citizens to carry firearms. The Second Amendment states “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” Referred to in modern times as an individual’s right to carry and use arms for self-defense, it was envisioned by the framers of the Constitution, according to future U.S. District Court judge St. George Tucker in 1803 as the “true palladium of liberty."

Age: 49

Address: 5038 Valley Forge Road

Occupation: Lincoln Airport police officer

Political party:ĚýDemocrat

Website:Ěý

What experiences qualify you for this office?

I'm a second-generation law enforcement officer, 22 years in law enforcement, a firearms instructor and conduct policy training with my current agency. I've worked at the Lincoln Police Department, Lancaster County Sheriff's Office and the Lincoln Airport. I've been involved in my community as a board member of the Lighthouse for seven years. I understand what the job entails and how to work with other agencies to find efficiencies to save taxpayers money, while also keeping the community safe.

If elected, what would be your top priorities and why?

My goal is to make the sheriff's office an agency that others want to model themselves after. I believe in a team concept that enhances the morale of our employees, utilizes modern training techniques and increases communication with the communities that we serve and with our colleagues at LPD. As a lifelong resident of Lancaster County, I want to ensure that the place I chose to raise my family is a vibrant and safe community for all.

Describe the importance of diversity in policing. What steps, if any, will you take to further diversify the sheriff’s office?

As the first black sheriff in Nebraska, I will do more to hire and retain officers that look like the community we represent. As somebody who has seen the most qualified candidates get passed over time and time again, I will do away with the good old boys system that is currently in place. I will focus on merit-based promotions and promoting our most talented men and women, rather than promoting based on personal relationships.

As attitudes toward policing evolve, what steps will you take to ensure the sheriff’s office maintains a trusting relationship with the community?

I would refocus the sheriff's office to a community policing approach. Most people's only interaction with police is negative, whether it's for a speeding ticket or something more serious. It's hard to build trust when our deputies stay in their vehicles and are rarely seen interacting with the community we serve and protect. The current administration has not put any emphasis on communication and transparency.

What steps would you take to recruit and retain officers?

The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office has been continuously understaffed. When you need help, you should have the comfort of knowing someone will show up in a timely manner. One example to fix this issue is to allow for simple reforms, such as grooming standards. We continue to turn away people who served our county and lose candidates to other agencies, because of a simple tattoo or beard. We have to modernize and resemble the communities that we serve.

Do you support allowing citizens to carry concealed weapons without a permit? Why or why not?

I am not a politician. The sheriff should be enforcing laws, not playing politics with millionaires, taking shady, anonymous $30,000 contributions to take power away from the people or their elected representatives. That's not democracy. As a firearms instructor and police officer, I personally support policies that ensure our community is safe and that law-abiding citizens know how to properly use their weapon if and when it is needed.