Tony Conner, Omaha Police Officer's Association sound alarm on department staffing levels

OR BACK HERE. THE OMAHA POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION IS SOUNDING THE ALARM ON DEPARTMENTS STAFFING LEVELS. RIGHT NOW, THE CITY IS DOWN 108 OFFICERS FROM ITS AUTHORIZED STRENGTH OF 906 FULL TIME SWORN OFFICERS. A CHECK OF 911 CALLS FOR POLICE SERVICE SHOWS. RESPONSE TIMES WERE UP 10% FOR PRIORITY ONE CALLS IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR COMPARED TO THE YEAR BEFORE. AND EVEN WORSE, FOR PRIORITY TWO CALLS UP 23% COMPARED TO ONE YEAR AGO. IN A STATEMENT TODAY, UNION PRESIDENT TONY CONNER SAYS, WE APPRECIATE THE RECOGNITION FROM MAYOR ARTHUR AND CHIEF SCHMITTER THAT THERE IS A CRISIS. HE GOES ON TO SAY THAT WITHOUT A REOPENING, THE CONTRACT AND RENEGOTIATING WAGES, THIS CRISIS WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AND FURTHER JEOPARDIZE OUR ABILITY TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN A PROFESSIONAL FORCE. OPIO SAYS. CURRENTLY AN OFFICER RECRUIT IN LINCOLN RECEIVES A STARTING WAGE THAT’S 32% HIGHER THAN ONE IN OMAHA. AND SAYS OMAHA IS BEHIND AT LEAST 15 OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT

The Omaha Police Officer's Association is sounding the alarm on department staffing levels.Currently, the city is down 108 officers from its authorized strength of 906 full-time sworn officers. A check of 911 calls for police service shows response times were up 10% for priority one calls in February 2023 compared to the year before. Priority two calls were up 23% compared to one year ago. In a statement Monday, union president Tony Conner said: "We appreciate the recognition from Mayor (Jean) Stothert and Chief (Todd) Schmaderer that there is a crisis."He also said that "without reopening the contract and renegotiating wages, this crisis would grow and further jeopardize the ability to recruit and retain a professional force."The Omaha Police Officer's Association said that currently, an officer recruit in Lincoln receives a starting wage that is 32% higher than one in Omaha.They also said Omaha is behind at least 15 other law enforcement agencies in the state for starting wages for recruits.Get the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7

OMAHA, Neb. —

The Omaha Police Officer's Association is sounding the alarm on department staffing levels.

Currently, the city is down 108 officers from its authorized strength of 906 full-time sworn officers.

A check of 911 calls for police service shows response times were up 10% for priority one calls in February 2023 compared to the year before. Priority two calls were up 23% compared to one year ago.

In a statement Monday, union president Tony Conner said: "We appreciate the recognition from Mayor (Jean) Stothert and Chief (Todd) Schmaderer that there is a crisis."

He also said that "without reopening the contract and renegotiating wages, this crisis would grow and further jeopardize the ability to recruit and retain a professional force."

The Omaha Police Officer's Association said that currently, an officer recruit in Lincoln receives a starting wage that is 32% higher than one in Omaha.

They also said Omaha is behind at least 15 other law enforcement agencies in the state for starting wages for recruits.

Get the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7

Tony Conner, Omaha Police Officer's Association sound alarm on department staffing levels

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