Lincoln PD Under Fire! City Council Meeting Explodes!

Things got HEATED at a Lincoln City Council meeting Tuesday night. Several Lincoln Police Department officers bravely voiced serious concerns about leadership and operational issues. And guess what? The Mayor was MIA, reportedly on vacation, according to local news. Talk about timing!

Veteran Investigator Quits, Drops Bombshells

The most explosive moment? A 23-year LPD veteran, Investigator Hill, read his resignation letter aloud! He said his warnings about internal problems were ignored, and he's walking away just shy of retirement insurance. Hill claimed he'd flagged issues with city leaders before, but got nowhere.

Ethics Over Everything

"I never lied," Hill declared, emphasizing his high ethical standards and the need for others in law enforcement to follow suit.

Time Card Trouble?

Hill further stated his time card was questioned after he spoke out. He denied any wrongdoing. He also raised concerns about legal problems in a current case and slammed the alleged selective use of body camera footage.

Body Cam Controversy

"A small bit of that incident," Hill complained regarding bodycam footage that was shown. "Our records are supposed to be maintained and secured." He felt that all of this could have been avoided, had someone actually taken action.

More Officers Sing the Blues

Other officers echoed Hill's warnings. One even said the department is in CRISIS and struggling to find new recruits!

"This Department Will Fall!"

Another officer said, “We cannot afford to lose investigators. This department will fall. The citizens will suffer." The department has "zero applicants right now" because of the problems. Someone else added, “We’ve done everything we possibly can the right way, so we’re at a loss for what to do and have no faith.”

Community Support

Apparently, the public in attendance supported the officers, worried about LPD's future and praising those who spoke up.

Budget Battle: Deputy Chief on the Chopping Block?

During the meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Brandon Tate suggested axing the Deputy Chief position to free up funds for two more patrol officers. The motion failed 3-2.

Mayor's Call?

Councilor Billy Pearson, who voted against the proposal, said the issue had been discussed previously and was in the mayor's hands. He'll need to chat with the mayor before reconsidering his vote if it comes up again.