CTI Channel 22 Omaha Mayoral Forum
Tristan Bonn-Former Omaha Police Auditor
It never ceases to amaze me how little people in this town know about what goes on in other parts of this town. Is it any wonder City Hall is incapable of shaping any meaningful policy for North or South Omaha? For instance, right before the Super Bowl, the Omaha World Herald had one of these silly lifestyle pieces about two competitive brothers, presumably referencing the Harbaugh brothers of coaching fame.
But in the OWH, they featured the Clark brothers. Dan Clark is, coincidentally, the Buffet family body guard – a business Dan Clark, again according to the OWH, started and grew to 150 employees while he worked as an Omaha police officer! The International Association of Chiefs of Police opposes police officers moonlighting as security guards for the obvious conflicts of interest. That never stopped anyone at OPD though.
But beyond this conflict of interest, Dan Clark a.k.a. “Big Red” on the streets of North Omaha and at “Little Vietnam,” was one of the most reviled cops in North Omaha, legendary for his brutality. This news, according to literally scores of citizens, politicians and even other cops was most often reported to me as Auditor when I first arrived in Omaha. It would be nearly impossible for anyone to miss; it was so well-known in and about North Omaha.
So why is Dan Clark touted in retirement and how did he make it all the way to retirement with a reputation as such a bad actor? The answers are all arguments in favor of reinstating the Auditor’s Office. But last week, at a Mayoral forum in North Omaha, Dan Welch and Jean Stothert said they didn’t think an Auditor was needed. Brad Ashford said he opposed the position. And Suttle blamed lack of funds for not being able to get a Police Auditor, although he managed to fund a Bike and Parking Czar. Only Dave Nabity recognized that there was still so much distrust between North Omaha and OPD that an Auditor was needed.
Even beyond the community complaint, it is really as simple as accountability. Why would the City give the police department a pass on proficiency and performance? The single most important and powerful agency of government is more worthy of full-time oversight than any other governmental function, not less. But most of all, when you have a crime problem your police department hasn’t been able to manage; don’t you think you should check to see if your police department is really up to snuff?
No, not in Omaha – it is the community’s fault (I love it when, faced with their own failure, Democrats blame the victim). I guess that’s what this police department and Suttle mean by Community Policing, because they are not doing anything that remotely resembles what I know as community policing. Community policing does not mean blame the community for the crime!! Good grief!
And last but not least, if you have a sub-par police department and a high crime rate, wouldn’t a sensible person make the connection that the police department may have something to do with the intractable crime rate? In Omaha, we celebrate the most reviled cop, we blame the community for crime, and we don’t even know what goes on in our own communities. . .
Is it any wonder we have so much crime in Omaha?
Let’s see, you were fired for cause and are suing the city, meaning the taxpayers, for wrongful dismissal. Your former office cost a lot of money and produced nothing of substance. We used to have a civilian review board made up of unpaid volunteers. We could easily do that again so the gang bangers, their mothers and the illegals have to place to complain when they run afoul of the police…as they do quite frequently. What I don’t understand is why you are still here. A noted expert (self-proclaimed) such as yourself should be in high demand in other cities desperate for your insightful unbiased services…LOL!!! Just go away and cause trouble elsewhere.
Eldon Rhoten When something is broke you fix it or get a new one. There is enough blame to go around.
Eldon Rhoten When something is broke you fix it or get a new one. There is enough blame to go around.
I’ve never read a more self-serving load of crap. Any notion of the author as an unbiased professional capable of reviewing police is destroyed by her own written words and clearly demonstrated in her past actions which lead to her dismissal for cause. There are two fundamental causes of the majority of crime in Omaha. Poverty and an insatiable demand for illegal drugs. How does a police auditor address either of those problems? We have tried and failed at eliminating poverty. Using taxpayer dollars to supposedly eliminate poverty has only produced more poverty. We now have concentrations of generations of single parent poor families that are the major areas where violent crime happens. In trying to secure hispanic minority votes, we allowed Omaha to become a sanctuary city for illegal aliens primarily from latin america. That has brought international drug cartel business to Omaha along with the most violent criminal gang members in the world, who because of the open door policy, can live and operate in plain sight hiding among the other illegals here for legitimate economic opportunities. Again, what the hell would a police auditor do to address either of those situations? The answer is clear…absolutely nothing. Community policing is a failed strategy. We used to have an unpaid civilian review board to address citizen complaints against the police. That is the only approach that makes any sense. It also has the upside of not producing another ex-city employee who turns around and sues the taxpayers of Omaha for wrongful termination instead of just moving on to some other city who might welcome wasting taxpayer dollars on a biased anti-police ideologue.
This is one I think everyone can agree on.
I was a property Manager for a long time in Omaha, Having said that I obviously had a great many opportunities to deal with Omaha Police Men and Women. I have to say that not on time did I ever have ANY complaints! They were extremely professional and courteous at all times, to me as well as the Tenant’s. I cannot say the same for the town I live in, Papillion. My experience (while never being arrested or breaking the law in my life)has been quite different being on the opposite side of the Sarpy County ” Good Ole boy club ” I find it almost humorous that they brag of only having college Educated Officer’s, No matter that most are rejects from either Omaha or Bellevue, or just failures at their original chosen professions. Having a college degree does NOT give you the courage, professionalism, that most true Police Officer’s are born with! Most of the Papillion ” Officer’s ” are relatives or friends of the ” Good Ole Boys ” I am truly worried that the crime is/has been moving this way and they are horribly un prepared to deal with it, I have had a need a couple of times to call the Police, but I usually call the State Patrol or the Sheriff ( Also a good ole boy club) The Sheriff is related to King Halouse. I talked to this $%^&@#$%^& when I had reason to complain about the Student Resource Officer who sited my Son with 3rd Degree assault for defending himself from a bully. My Son was being pumelled by a much larger Kid, there were 14 Witnesses who were not even questioned! I had to retain a Lawyer, But I beat it! They are breaking the law by citing Kid’s in this manner.
Having said all that…lol! I think it is always a good idea to have some sort of non biased oversight. In Papillion there is absolutely ZERO oversight. The Higher ups especially Dan Hoins in Papillion don’t give a rats behind! I am shocked that this guy still has a job after his part in the Blinn scandal coverup!