Colonel David Sankey, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol has named Administrative Services Major Thomas Schwarten to the post of Assistant Superintendent. Schwarten, a 23-year veteran of the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) took over his duties March 14, 2011.

“The candidates for Lt. Colonel all possessed excellent qualities,” said Colonel David Sankey. “Tom is a proven leader, both in the field as a Troop Area Commander and most recently as Administrative Services Major. He knows how to get the job done. I look forward to continue

Investigator’s with the Nebraska State Patrol in conjunction with the Jefferson County Attorney, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the Lincoln Police Department have arrested a Fairbury woman in the death of her husband.

Susan Dejong, 54, Fairbury, is lodged in the

Geographical salary comparison is the main sticking point for Fremont’s Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 37 in fighting the city for its contract in the Court of Industrial Relations.

The Court of Industrial Relations is used by cities, police and fire unions to solve contract disputes because the public safety officers cannot strike.

The union’s position is that the comparable array for the contract should include at least one city within the Omaha metro area such as Papillion, LaVista or Bellevue. That stance is based on the fact that the officers share many comparable working conditions because of crime spillover, commuter interchange of the workforce with Omaha and cooperative agreements and cooperation of officers with Omaha and the metro suburbs.

“We don’t dispute the comparison with Columbus, but we share similarities with the others too,” said FOP member Sgt. Bob Buer. “It’s not that we are being greedy, we are looking for fairness city-wide. What we plan to prove is that we have similar work environments to cities like Papillion and LaVista.”

Is your child’s car seat properly installed? Statistics from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) show 96% of parents believe that is the case, yet that same research shows nearly 73% of car seats are misused in a way that may compromise their effectiveness.

The Nebraska State Patrol Troop A Headquarters- Omaha is providing assistance to ensure your child’s safety seat is installed properly thanks to a new fitting station courtesy of AAA Nebraska.

A Trooper certified as a safety seat technician, will utilize the fitting station to instruct and demonstrate how to install and use the appropriate child safety seat in your vehicle as well as how to correctly place child in the appropriate child safety seat. A check of the child safety seat will also determine if the seat has been recalled.

NHTSA statistics show child safety seats are 71% effective in reducing deaths for infants in passenger vehicle crashes, and 54% effective in reducing crash deaths for children 1-4 years of age.

“The numbers are pretty compelling,” said Colonel Bryan Tuma, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Properly installed and used car seats can and do save lives. We encourage parents and care-givers to take the time to ensure their child’s safety by taking advantage of the services offered at our new fitting station.”

The permanent fitting station is located at the Troop A-Omaha Headquarters, 4411 S. 108^th Street.  Fittings are available by appointment Monday-Friday, during regular business hours 8:00-4:00.

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Fremont Police are investigating two Tuesday theft reports.
Lt. Kurt Bottorff said officers were called at 1:07 p.m. to Sid Dillon Chevrolet, 2500 E. 23rd St. where $500 worth of car parts and radio equipment were reported stolen from an employee’s vehicle.
He said officers were called at 1:21 p.m. to the 2400 block of Nye Avenue where baggage, collectable buckles, knives and metal boxes were reported stolen. A computer also was reported damaged and all of the damage and theft was estimated at $1,155.
Anyone with any information about the incidents is asked to call Fremont Police at  727-2677 or CrimeStoppers at 727-4002.
 

A man who pulled a gun on a car owner who confronted him while stealing was arrested Wednesday on a warrant.
Zackary Carlston, 19, of Fremont was charged with use of a weapon to commit a felony, a Class II felony, and making terroristic threats, a Class IV felony.
Meagan Ferrari, 20, of Fremont also was charged with willful reckless driving, a Class III misdemeanor, in the incident.
Lt. Kurt Bottorff said the charges stem from a Nov. 22 incident where a man saw someone breaking into his wife’s car and confronted the three people attempting to flee the scene. Carlston is accused of pulling a gun and Ferrari is accused of driving the car.
 

A woman was cited Saturday evening after police were called to a report of fighting in the street.
Kayla Guerue, 22, of Fremont was charged with third-degree assault, a Class I misdemeanor.
Lt. Kurt Bottorff said officers were called at approximately 8 p.m. to the area of Third and I streets were Guerue is accused of assaulting a 17-year-old girl.
 

Fremont Police are investigating a Saturday tool theft report.
Lt. Kurt Bottorff said officers were called at 10:53 a.m. to  the 1600 block of N. Clarkson Street where $1,000 worth of tools were reported stolen from a truck.
Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to call Fremont Police at 727-2677 or CrimeStoppers at 727-4002.
 

A man was arrested on several charges after an early Sunday morning 911 hangup.

A man in jail facing a felony charge for stealing a car was served another felony warrant Thursday.
Joseph Brainard, 23, of Fremont was charged with possession of stolen property, a Class IV felony.
Lt. Detective Shane Wimer said Brainard is accused of possessing nearly $8,000 worth of musical equipment and electronics that were reported stolen from a church.