The 902 Podcast

Captain Vik sits down with Sheriff Wagner and Chief Deputy Houchin to catch up on the latest happenings from inside the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office. Moving administrative office back after the latest remodel. Spring shift bid changes. Hiring updates. An ongoing officer-involved shooting investigation. Scams and fraud cases.

Episode Music Credits:

Vittoro by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)

Rodney Skopes by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)

Becky Kern is a Lead Meteorologist at the National Weather Service Office in Omaha, Nebraska. Becky joined Captain John Vik and Sara Sump to discuss the National Weather Service (NWS) and severe weather awareness as we move into spring.

Becky's background. The NWS mission and history. NWS products and services. Staff and career options. The weather watch/warning process. Mesoscale discussions. Severe weather precautions. "Snow squalls" and other hazards.

The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office saw an over 100% increase in vehicle pursuits from 2019 to 2023. In this episode, Sheriff Wagner, Chief Deputy Houchin, and Captain Vik discuss LSO's pursuit policy and the factors deputies and supervisors weigh when determining whether to pursue a vehicle.

In 1829, Sir Robert Peel established the London Metropolitan Police Force. He became known as the “Father of Modern Policing,” and his commissioners established nine principles of policing that remain as crucial and urgent today as they were two centuries ago. In this episode, Captain Vik unpacks Sir Robert Peel's 9 Principles of Policing and how they relate to modern-day operations at the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff Wagner and Chief Deputy Houchin sit down with Captain Vik to discuss pending legislative bills impacting public safety in Lancaster County. Hear their thoughts on why law enforcement agencies need to be involved in the legislative process. Hear about legislative bills related to the elimination of handgun purchase permits, changes to asset forfeiture laws, and more in this episode.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel sat down with Sheriff Wagner, Chief Deputy Houchin, and Captain Vik to discuss the Federal Bureau of Investigation and how it functions locally within the Omaha Field Office which extends across Nebraska and Iowa. Gene discussed the FBI's mission, priorities, threats, and partnerships with state and local agencies right here in Lancaster County.

Sheriff Wagner shares highlights and statistics from 2023 in his State of the Office review. Personnel updates. Service Awards. Division statistics.

Josh Planos serves as the VP of Communications & Public Relations for the Midwest Plains chapter of the Better Business Bureau. In this episode, Josh joined Captain Vik, Sheriff Wagner, and Sara Sump to discuss how consumers can protect themselves against scams and deceptive business practices.

Josh's background. The Better Business Bureau - origins, mission, and services. Law enforcement impersonation. Frequent types of scams. What you can do. BBB's ScamTracker. LSO/BBB partnership. Programming for businesses and consumers.

Sgt. Drew Bolzer returned to the show to talk about LSO's Crash Reconstruction Team which he oversees. Listen in as he visits with Sheriff Wagner, Chief Deputy Houchin, and Captain Vik about the training and expert skills of traffic crash reconstructionists right here at the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office.

Drew's path to crash reconstruction. Crashes vs. Accidents. Training. Equipment. Math & Physics. Vehicle autopsies. Airbag Control Modules. Academic Partnerships.

LSO leverages technology to combat crime and enhance public safety in Lancaster County. Law enforcement uses License Plate Reader (LPR) technology to take pictures of vehicle license plates which are then compared to existing law enforcement databases of Amber Alerts, stolen vehicles, and vehicles wanted in connection with criminal activity. In this episode, Sgt. Jason Mayo sat down with Sheriff Wagner, Chief Deputy Houchin, and Captain Vik to address what the technology does and, more importantly, what it doesn't. Sgt. Mayo addressed several of the myths and misconceptions that have circulated about LPRs and their use in law enforcement to help you understand how and why they can make Lancaster County safer.

Captain Vik looks back at 2023 with help from three law enforcement colleagues. Chris Golden serves as the Assistant Chief of Police at the Bartlett Police Department in Bartlett, TN. Josh Jefferson is a Division Chief with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) stationed in the Washington DC area. Steve Robson is a Colonel with the Broward County Sheriff's Office in Fort Lauderdale, FL. In this episode, the group will look back on successes and wins from their respective agencies in 2023 and look ahead to challenges waiting in 2024.

Merry Christmas from all of us at the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office! Our gift to you is a recap of the top ten 902 Podcast episodes from 2023. But first, we snuck in a little blooper reel for your enjoyment. After listening to clips from the top ten episodes, be sure to stick around for a recording of the poem, "My Christmas Eve" as read by the author, retired Ohio State Trooper Bob Welsh. Thank you to Trooper Welsh for providing LSO with permission to share this great holiday poem. To listen to his original recording, check out his YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xObw8jdvH4s. We hope you and yours have a safe and happy holiday season!

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1994 provided additional funding and resources to law enforcement agencies, which allowed them to dedicate personnel and programs to better serve crime victims of domestic assault, child abuse, and sexual assault. LSO has assigned a full-time investigator to these cases ever since. In this episode, Investigator Joanna Dimas sits down with Sheriff Wagner, Chief Deputy Houchin, and Captain Vik to discuss the program, her role, and how it makes a difference to victims in Lancaster County.

Joanna's background. Coming to LSO. What is VAWA? Funding. Types of cases. A day in her shoes. Training. Human Trafficking. Interacting with BraveBe. Joanna's why. Keeping Lancaster County safer.

Research has shown that suicide survivors are at an elevated risk for suicide themselves when compared to the general population. That's something that Local Outreach to Suicide Loss Survivors (LOSS) wanted to address and a Nebraska team was started in 2009. In this episode, Nebraska LOSS Team founder Dr. Don Belau and LOSS team member Cynthia Surrounded sit down with Sheriff Wagner, Chief Deputy Houchin, and Captain Vik for a very informative discussion about how the LOSS Team serves the Lincoln and Lancaster County area.

Introductions. What is a LOSS Team? How LOSS came to be. Membership. How LOSS works for suicide loss survivors. Why? Postvention. How to engage LOSS services. How you can get involved.

At 7:41 pm on 11/3/2023, Tyler Goodrich left his home near Lincoln, NE - he has not been seen since. Tyler was reported as a missing person by his spouse the next morning at 9:35 am. In the month since he disappeared, we've received numerous tips, theories, and speculation but still, no Tyler. In this episode, you'll hear directly from investigators and friends of Tyler. Sgt. Casey Dahlke, Inv. Jeremy Schwarz, Rachel Barth, and Amanda Meyer sit down with Sheriff Wagner and Captain Vik to discuss the case, search efforts, and more about Tyler in detail.

Anyone with information regarding Tyler Goodrich's disappearance is asked to call the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office at (402) 441-6500 or CrimeStoppers at (402) 475-3600. See something. Say something. Now.

LSO is gearing up for its final entry-level deputy recruiting process of 2023. Deputy applications will be available from 12/2/2023 through 12/31/2023. In this episode, Captain Vik walks you through the benefits, requirements, and application process to become a deputy at the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office. For more information or to apply, check out www.JoinLSO.com!

On October 25, 2017 Colleen Lovett got the news every parent dreads - that her child had been involved in a serious crash. Tragically, Colleen's daughter Ryan Post never recovered from her injuries, but Ryan's story didn't end there. Through the gift of organ and tissue donation, she was able to save the lives of at least five people and impact many more. In this episode, Colleen joined Tyson Kinzle and Kara Cordell from Live On Nebraska, an independent, non-profit organ procurement organization serving Nebraska and Pottawattamie County, Iowa. Listen as they sit down with Chief Deputy Houchin and Captain Vik to share the mission, process, and impact that organ and tissue donation can have right here in Lancaster County, Nebraska and beyond!

Introduction to Live On Nebraska. The mission. The impact. Collaboration between Live On Nebraska and area law enforcement. Ryan Post's story and its impact. Aftercare. The healing power of organ donation. Awareness and education. Organ donation registration. Closing thoughts.

"How would you like to come fly for the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office?" That was the question Sheriff Merle Karnopp posed to who would ultimately become LSO's first pilot - Sgt. Larry Russell. Now retired, Larry sat down with Sheriff Wagner, Chief Deputy Houchin, and Captain Vik to walk through the history of aviation at LSO.

Air Force Life. LPD. How would you like to fly for the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office? The "Bubble Bell" aka the "Karnoppter". What's your vector, Victor? The helicopter "crash". The Flying County Mounty. Fixed-wing aircraft. The cost-effective balance over time. Selling the Piper Navajo. "Flying Sheriffs". Aviation at LSO today. Closing thoughts.

The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office is home to a task force dedicated to apprehending fugitives residing in or traveling through Lancaster County. In coordination with the U.S. Marshals Service, Lincoln Police Department, and other law enforcement partners, the Metro Area Fugitive Task Force seeks fugitives wherever they may be hiding. In this episode, Sergeant Hipps joins Chief Deputy Houchin and Captain Vik to discuss the mission of the task force and how the public can help.

Sgt. Phil Lang joined Chief Deputy Houchin and Captain Vik to talk about LSO's Court Services Division.

Phil's background. Lincoln Pius X Class of 1987. Time with the VAWA/Special Victim's Unit. Building security. The various Courts within the courthouse. Campus security. Transports - "See the World". How extraditions work. The Northwest Shuttle. Title Inspections.

It's Monday morning, which means we're reviewing weekend reports. Each day, LSO reports go through layers of employee and supervisor reviews to ensure we provide exceptional law enforcement services that reduce crime, enhance public safety, and build public trust. In today's episode, Sheriff Wagner, Chief Deputy Houchin, and Captain Vik discuss reports and what some call the "Monday Morning Quarterback."

Weekend calls. Monday (and every) morning. What we look for. Why? Daily report workflows. Followup assignments. Our standard. Training. Accountability. How exceptional law enforcement reports make Lancaster County safer.

Col. Bolduc is currently serving as the 18th superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP). Sheriff Wagner, Chief Deputy Houchin, and Captain Vik caught up with Col. Bolduc to discuss operations, staffing, partnerships, and upcoming projects at NSP.

Col. Bolduc's background. An overview of NSP. "A little bit of everything." Resource agency. "A big state." Communication is key. Jurisdiction and focus. "Qualifying for law enforcement intervention." NSP staff and vacancies. www.NebraskaTroopers.com "A team sport." NSP's airwing. What's new at NSP? How NSP makes Nebraska and Lancaster County, Nebraska safer.

The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) assigns investigators to prevent pharmaceutical diversion across Nebraska. In this episode, NSP Sergeant Chris Apley, Investigator John Lukesh, and Investigator Tyler Kroenke joined the 902 Podcast to discuss an upcoming drug take-back day and their efforts to reduce the harms caused by drugs and pharmaceuticals being diverted from their originally prescribed purposes.

Get to know Chris, John, and Tyler. Nebraska State Patrol drug enforcement. Pharmaceutical Diversion - what is it? The problem, by the numbers. Overdose vs. poisoning. All walks of life. Efforts to help. Partnerships with healthcare providers. Drug take-back day. Other take-back options.

More information available at:

- www.dea.gov/takebackday

- www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov

- www.nebraskameds.org

The Lincoln/Lancaster County Chaplaincy Corps serves alongside Lincoln Police officers, Lincoln Fire & Rescue personnel, and Lancaster County Sheriff's deputies to support victims and first responders in their times of need. Chaplain Gary Fuller sat down with Captain Vik, Chief Deputy Houchin, and Sheriff Wagner ahead of National Faith & Blue Weekend to talk about the Chaplaincy Corps, their mission, and how to get involved.

Gary's background. Chaplaincy Corps Mission. A ministry of presence. Members. Training. Work handled by chaplains. The future of the Chaplaincy Corps. Getting involved. National Faith & Blue Weekend. Gary's book and writer's block.

To learn more about National Faith & Blue Weekend, check out www.FaithAndBlue.org.

Brad Johnson is the director of Lancaster County Corrections. Unlike many sheriff's offices, Lancaster County has a civilian corrections department managed separately from the sheriff's office. In this episode, Sheriff Wagner, Chief Deputy Houchin, and Captain Vik catch up with Brad to talk about the history of the Lancaster County Jail and their current day operations.

Brad's background. Early jail days and the transition to the modern era. The Lancaster County Adult Detention Facility (ADF). Capacity. "Direct Supervision". Corrections programs in Lancaster County. Corrections positions. Training. Hiring. How Corrections makes Lancaster County safer. Future plans.

While the walls may have changed, the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office has lived on the same block within the City of Lincoln since 1874! In this episode, Captain Vik talks with Sheriff Wagner and Chief Deputy Houchin about LSO facilities from 1861 to the present day.

Facility history. Early days. Original Lancaster County Jail - 1874. Lancaster County's first courthouse - 1888. The first "County - City Building" - 1967. Renovating to the "Hall of Justice" - 1997. The 2005 flood. Satellite facilities. Present day remodel projects. Public Safety Training Center. Future plans.

Historical photos from facilities discussed in this episode will be posted on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LSOnebraska.

With fall around the corner, hunting seasons will begin to heat up. Travis Shepler is an Assistant Administrator with the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission's Law Enforcement Division. In this episode, he sits down with Captain Vik, Chief Deputy Houchin, and Sheriff Wagner to talk about how public safety meets the outdoors in Lancaster County and throughout Nebraska.

Travis Shepler's path to become a game warden. Game & Parks overview. Game wardens in Nebraska. How to become a conservation officer. Game & Parks enforcement within Lancaster County. Cooperation between LSO and NE G&P. Seasonal changes in the job. Common violations and enforcement issues. Larger investigations. Hunting safety and education.

LSO's Tactical Response Unit or TRU Team has grown into a highly trained, organized, and equipped group within the office. Tasked with everything from high-risk warrant service to rescue and recovery - they are the responders front line deputies call for emergency support. Investigator Jeremy Schwarz sat down with Sheriff Wagner, Chief Deputy Houchin, and Captain Vik to discuss the unit's role, history, and modern day operations at LSO.

Jeremy's path to LSO. The TRU Team's humble beginnings. Why "TRU"? Growth and changes over the years. TRU today. Members and positions. Equipment loadouts. Examples of deployments. TRU selection and training. How the TRU makes Lancaster County safer. Interoperation with other SWAT teams.

Deputy Brian Piitz is a School Resource Officer (SRO) currently assigned to Malcolm and Raymond Central Public Schools. On this episode, Deputy Piitz joins Sheriff Wagner and Captain Vik to discuss LSO's school resource officer program and safety tips for the upcoming school year.

Deputy Piitz's background. History of SROs at LSO. Why we have SROs. Lancaster County school districts served by LSO. A typical day. "School to Prison Pipeline"? Back to school safety. Buses. Traffic. Abductions. Bullying. Sexting. Sextortion.

Andrew Wegley from the Lincoln Journal Star joined Sheriff Wagner, Chief Deputy Houchin & Captain Vik to discuss transparency between law enforcement & the media. Andrew's background. The stories Andrew likes to tell. Steps journalists go through to publish a story. Public Records. How social media and technology has changed journalism. The media's role in a free society. Law enforcement and the media. What's going well? What could be better?

Sergeant Jason Mayo joined Sheriff Wagner, Chief Deputy Houchin, and Captain Vik to discuss LSO's award winning Criminal Interdiction Task Force. He also spoke to many of the narratives and misconceptions about asset forfeiture within law enforcement and at LSO specifically.

Jason's background. How the task force was formed. Task force partners. How criminal interdiction works. Policing for profit? How forfeited assets are used.

Captain John Vik takes his turn answering questions with Sheriff Wagner and Chief Deputy Houchin about one of LSO's newest divisions - Professional Standards.

Calvin Coolidge's view of law enforcement standards. John's background and career path. The history of Professional Standards at LSO. Changes over the years. A new division. Taking care of LSO's people. Personnel. Training. Communications. Internal Affairs. Mistakes of the head or mistakes of the heart. Rather go short than lower our standards.

Deputy Jarod Brabec joins the 902 Podcast to discuss how law enforcement agencies use armored vehicles like the Tactical Response Unit's (TRU) Bearcat.

Jarod's background. Progression from hunting guide to beer delivery guy to deputy. History of armored vehicles at LSO. Need for a new vehicle. Funding. Features. Usage stats. Impacts on officer/public safety.

Assistant Lincoln Police Chief Brian Jackson joins Sheriff Wagner, Chief Deputy Houchin, and Captain Vik to discuss the various ways both agencies seek to cooperate and avoid duplication of efforts for the citizens of Lincoln and Lancaster County.

AC Jackson's background. Changing times between LSO & LPD. Joint task forces. Specialized Units. Equipment. Facilities. Major Incidents.

Paige Piper, Executive Director of BraveBe, joins Sheriff Wagner, Chief Deputy Houchin, and Captain Vik to talk about Lincoln's Child Advocacy Center (CAC).

Paige's road to BraveBe. The history of child advocacy centers. Lincoln's CAC. Changes over the years. A new name. BraveBe services. What to expect. BraveBe Staff/Board. Future plans. How to get involved.

Be sure to visit BraveBe.org to learn more!

Former Lincoln Police Sergeant Luke Wilke and former LSO Chief Deputy Jeff Bliemeister join Chief Deputy Houchin and Captain Vik for a true crime case review of the disappearance of Melissa Schmidt. Melissa was reported missing from Lincoln, Nebraska on September 7, 1995. This is part 2 of a related case discussed on Episode 8.

A missing person report. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Angela Hecox's story. The Template. The North American Search Dog Network. A name without a body. The first dig site. Another one out there. A prey thing. Looking further west. A bone sticking out of it. Processing the scene. Autopsy. Identification. Looking for a '79 Chrysler Newport. Arraignment, guilty plea, and sentencing.

Some of the photos discussed in this episode can be found on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/lsonebraska.

"A goal without a plan is only a wish..." On this episode of the 902 Podcast, Sheriff Wagner and Chief Deputy Houchin sit down with Captain John Vik to discuss LSO's 2023-2025 Strategic Plan. What is a strategic plan? Why do we have one? Sir Robert Peel. LSO mission and values. The planning process. SWOT analysis. Goals and objectives.

The full plan can be viewed at https://www.lancaster.ne.gov/DocumentCenter/View/18643/Lancaster-County-Sheriffs-Office-Stat-Plan. Contact us at lso@lancaster.ne.gov with any questions or feedback!

The Marine Unit is a relatively new specialized unit to LSO. They are tasked with enforcement and safety operations in the many lakes and recreation areas within Lancaster County alongside our partners with the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission. In this episode, Deputy John Brady sits down with Captain Vik and Chief Deputy Houchin to provide an overview of the personal and professional history that led to the unit's creation along with important safety tips for visitors planning to hit the water in Lancaster County.

Deputy Brady's roots. The Navy. Nebraska. His path to law enforcement. Stay necessary. The need for a Marine Unit. Overcoming obstacles. Unit mission. Equipment. Staffing. Safety tips.

For more important information, check out the Nebraska Boaters Guide Deputy Brady referenced here: https://outdoornebraska.gov/guides-maps/boating-guide/.

Bryan Waugh is the Chief of Police in Kearney, Nebraska. On this episode, Chief Waugh joins Captain Vik, Sheriff Wagner, and Chief Deputy Houchin to discuss the importance of partnerships in law enforcement. Chief Waugh's background. Perspectives on inter-agency cooperation. Partnerships between LSO & KPD. Community partnerships in Kearney, NE. The FBI National Academy's emphasis on professional networking. The FBI National Academy Associates and the Nebraska Chapter. Chief Waugh's Kearney Archway photo collection.

Former LSO Chief Deputy Jeff Bliemeister joins Capt. Vik, Sheriff Wagner, and Chief Deputy Houchin for a true crime case review of the Anne True homicide. Anne True's remains were discovered in rural Lancaster County on September 29th, 1996. Scene processing. Autopsy. Identification. A long wait. A break in the case. Todd Baker. Volusia County, Florida. Carmella calls Todd. Apprehension. Another witness. Trial. Conviction. "Another one out there..."

Some of the photos discussed in this episode can be found on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/lsonebraska.

LSO has been an active member of the Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE) Project since 2021. On this episode, Captain John Vik discusses LSO's participation in the program with Sheriff Terry Wagner and Chief Deputy Ben Houchin. How did LSO become involved with ABLE? ABLE Project background. Stakeholders. Program pillars. Importance of cultural changes. Program standards and commitments. What community members, faith organizations, and law enforcement agencies can do to support the ABLE Project. Learn more by visiting the ABLE website at https://www.law.georgetown.edu/cics/able.

LSO Patrol Captain Tommy Trotter joins Captain Vik, Sheriff Wagner, and Chief Deputy Houchin to discuss Patrol Operations. Patrol staffing and structure. Staffing shortages. Lancaster County population trends. Contract towns. School Resource Officers (SROs). U Drive, U Text, U Pay. Distracted driving awareness. What parents can do to protect their driving age kids.