It started with Case number one, posted the Chief's Corner on March 21st, 2008. The fourth comment was from flyover living, and was followed by an off-blog email telling me about the Nebraska Memories project at the Nebraska Library Commission. Never one to pass up an offer of free help, we got in touch with the Commission, and they helped us a great deal in getting our archive of Annual Reports scanned as .pdf files. Along with additional assistance from Chris Plock at the City Information Services Department, and our Management Services Unit intern, Jonna, we have completed a remarkable online archive.
You will now find the Annual Reports of the Lincoln Police Department back to 1941 available online, at the police department's web site, and at Nebraska Memories. The 66 year archive contains an 11 yearr gap, however. No annual report was produced from 1974 thorugh 1984 1985.
There are some memorable and historic moments in those old annual reports. Here are a few samples (I'm using the Adobe Acrobat page number in these page references):
Casady is not the only chief with a chart, 1941, p. 25.
...or a confusing chart, 1948, p. 19-20.
...or an incident map, 1945, p. 21.
The impact of WWII on the police department, 1942, p.2.
Two-way radio system inaugurated, 1942, p. 10.
Policewomen added to the force, 1944, p.6, 12, 13.
Turnover rate tops one-third, 1945, p. 7.
The 60 hour, six day work week is replaced with a 48 hour, six day week , 1946, p. 3.
The 48 hour, six-day work week is replaced with a 40 hour, five day week, 1963, p. 8.
The ongoing saga of being a very small force , 1949, p. 8.
University of Nebraska students start as part-time police officers, 1951, p. 7.
Officer William J. Hill dies after one day on the job, 1953, p. 9.
Meter maids introduced, 1958, p. 5.
Not a single mention of Charles Starkweather... , 1958, p. 8-9
...but he committed all six of the murders in the table, 1958, p. 14.
The history of the Lincoln Police Department in the City's centennial year, 1967, p. 6-8.
A 35.8% increase in Part 1 Crime, 1968, p. 8.
Chief: Supreme Court "ties the hands" of police, 1968 p. 3.
Law students and varsity athletes used as police officers, 1968, p. 13.
Last day for 323 N. 10th Street, 1968, p. 20.
First day for 550 S. 9th Street, 1969, p. 3.
Best motor photo, 1970, p. 6.
We still own that typewriter, 1971, p 10.
He's now the mayor of Billings, MT, 1972, p. 21.
He's now the Grand Island police chief, 1973, p. 1.
Best photo ever in an Annual Report, 1973, p. 5.
Officer Richard E. Leyden killed in the line of duty, 1949, p.6.
Lt. Frank Soukup is killed in the line of duty, 1965-1966, p. 7
Det. Paul B. Whitehead is killed in the line of duty, 1967, p. 10.
Officer George W. Welter killed in the line of duty, 1968, p. 6.
Chief, I think you've solved the "undersized department" issue:
ReplyDeleteIt's time to return to the days of 60 hour, 6 day work weeks!
Very interesting!
ReplyDeleteHere's one I missed. Compare the notepad at the bottom of this post with the photo on page 21 of the 1971 Annual Report..
ReplyDeleteChief,
ReplyDeleteIm disappointed that I cant see the covers. That 1999 Cover has to be the best HANDS DOWN! I would say #1 but I am a little bias.
Chief,
ReplyDeleteSorry to get off the point here a bit but I have a quick question. (Other officers can answer).
I have a friend(I'll call her Cindy) who was hit by another lady. The lady who hit Cindy wrote a note and gave only her first name and phone number. She requested 3 estimates from Cindy regarding how much it would cost to fix the damage. The lady requested that Cindy not contact insurance because she has 2 teenage drivers and doesn't want her insurance to go up. so Cindy contacted the woman with 2 estimates and the woman has not replied. This is probably a civil matter, however is there anyway a first name and a home phone can be entered in a data base to come up with her last name? Cindy is going to call her own insurance company but needs a last name of the lady that hit her.
(If you are reading this honey, don't worry this is REALLY about a friend! =)
Thank you in advance for the info
jenn
To 9:05, I'm sure you mean the 2000 cover. What WAS Kacki thinking?
ReplyDeleteTHE DRIVER DID NOT SEE!
ReplyDeleteThis is true in many accidents. What is the point of having a vision test at the DMV if drivers do not use the rule. The rule is, if you do not see it, it still may be a danger. That would cover the small kids that may dart in front of a car. Do you drive SLOW in a parking lot? Or do you just hope today is the day you do not run over a small child that may bolt from outside your vision area and into the path of the car you are driving. Just some thoughts. Thats all.
One day on the job. Wow.
ReplyDeleteIt does reflect the "all in the family" way of the city hiring practices.
Wow...very interesting!
ReplyDeleteToday I call LPD and give information about a man that attempted to follow my mother into her house. I call and give the address as North 22nd Street.
ReplyDeleteThe Officer was dispatched to North 26th Street. I call back and the correction is made. Point made is this. The sound of the letter P, B, T, S, are easily confused when spoken. P sounds like B ect. How in the world does 22nd sound like 26th?????? The call taker even said "I want to get this right" And screws up anyway. I called and spoke with Lou (spelling)? Lou was working as supervisor and I was told the call will be reviewed and I will be contacted later this week. The man that was following my mother was found several blocks away. Thank you to LPD for fast and quick response. The Officer was very kind and business like. I might mention that my Uncle, who is in his late 70's, is constantly giving beggars money. He lets them wait outside while he goes in the house to get money. Am I the only one that thinks this is dangerous ??
Chief: I was disappointed in the quality of the image of the "Best Motor Photo". It's my guess that the officer in the image is someone who's moved to a more senior position?
ReplyDeleteIn a future blog installment would you please tell us more about the reconstituted motor corp? Like mission, responsibilities, etc. I see motor officers very rarely, and when I do they are usually parked doing selective enforcement.
As a daily two wheel commuter I have a much different prospective than most commuters on traffic patterns and hazards here in Lincoln. And would like to learn more about how the motors are now used in Lincoln law enforcement.
2:12- How do you know the father and grandfather were Lincoln Police Officers? I didn't see that mentioned in the article. Your comment is spoken like one of the 'thanks for trying out' crowd.
ReplyDeleteThe BAC for A8-098504 really made me do a double-take. 0.460! Obviously a regular, heavy, career drinker. Is that a record high number as far as LPD is aware?
ReplyDelete7:51-
ReplyDeleteWe've had higher, believe it or not.
It has been my experience that Alcohol blood levels are not a very accurate guide to the degeneration of motor skills and judgment. I know that legal standards have to be set and followed. However from personal observation I have seen some people who have only had one or two beers show obvious signs of motor impairment.
ReplyDeleteThe flip side: About forty years ago a good friend of mine, who was a former state champion gymnast, got pulled over by a LPS officer and asked to do a field sobriety test. When asked to walk a straight line, Jim (not his real name), proceeded to do a handstand and walk on his hands for about twenty feet and turn around and return. If he would have been in competition his performance would have earned him a very poor score but in a field sobriety test it was good enough that the officer let him go.
Gun Nut
Was robbery A8-099131 just what it seems on the cace of it, an ambushed-from-behind street robbery in the middle of the day, or is there a back story to it? Any drug angle at all?
ReplyDelete3:50-
ReplyDeleteVictim waited six days to report it, said he was smoking pot at the time, and wasn't thinking clearly. Ex-con himself for robbery, with lengthy criminal history. Who knows. Maybe he really was jacked by total strangers while walking in the park.
Thanks for the info! We can be pretty sure that the local news media wouldn't have bothered to dig for that.
ReplyDeleteTo be blunt, that's probably because it's in their best interest when their readers/viewers believe "it could happen to anyone, we're all in grave danger". Sells more subscriptions and gets more people to tune in.
robbery A8-099131.... Karma perhaps?
ReplyDelete