Criminal Justice Reform Through Police Transparency
My story
I am Retired Police Capt. Colene Hinchey of the Omaha Police Department. I proudly served the citizens of Omaha for 23 years but I retired earlier than I expected due to Chief Todd Schmaderer refusing to discipline my problem lieutenant, Amy Oetter.
Just after retiring, I went to a cop party and that forever changed my life. What you need to know about cops is that they love to gossip and to my amazement a story unfolded in front of me. That story was that Ofc. Michael Curd, in the digital forensic unit, received a 3 day suspension for attempting to illegally search a phone. Ofc. Michael Curd used Omaha Police Department equipment to attempt to by pass the security, with out a warrant, in an attempt to identify the cute female who picture was on the phone. The reason Ofc. Michael Curd did that was because his buddy, Ofc. Ben Weidner, recovered a lost/stolen phone at a kiosk saw a photo of a pretty female on the phone. Ofc. Ben Weidner did what any corrupt cop would do and took it to his friend Ofc. Michael Curd to break in to the phone with out a warrant. It was explained that Weidner was going to attempt to "locate", a.k.a. stalk, the girl.
I later found out through Freedom of Information Act (FIOA) request that Curd got 3 day suspension and was put back in the unit. That unit is handling your phones, computer, cameras, iPads and digital media. That unit handles homicides, child victim cases, sexual assaults', robberies and your lost/found/stolen property.
I have 2 questions for Weidner. 1) How old is that girl? The girl on the phone. Just wondering because it makes a HUGE difference. 2) Does she know that you attempted search her phone in an attempt to locate her for a possible date?
This is only the beginning scroll down and check out my Wall of Shame!
My Mission
To bring integrity back to the Omaha Police Department by re-establishing the police auditor position and making it law for the City of Omaha to disclose discipline issues regarding their employees.
What you will learn?
You will learn, in an unfiltered manner, what really happens with in the closed doors of the Omaha Police Department (OPD). Especially regarding the phenomenon that I call the Blue Shield Effect regarding OPD command and the Omaha Police Officers Association (OPOA).
The Blue Shield Effect
What is the Blue Shield Effect
I use the term Blue Shield Effect to describe the systematic abuse of policing powers used within police departments to shield and protect bad officers. Police use their power of report writing and questionable Internal Affairs (IA) practices to keep information hidden on corrupt police officers. Due to creative report writing and categorizing that would otherwise be exposed. WHAT you don't know CAN hurt. There are many police officers on OPD at this moment that are benefiting from that effect as we speak. Especially the current ranking officer Todd Schmaderer.
How does the Omaha Police Department do this?
Chief Todd Schmaderer has complete control on who can file a report and who cannot. This means if Todd Schmaderer doesn't want to take your report for you he doesn't have to. There is nothing under the law that requires the police to take, write down, and accurately record your version of events. No record. No voice. No day in court.
I was personally refused a police report when I tried to file a harassment charge against Deputy Chief Michele Bang at Omaha Police Department. Chief Todd Schmaderer directly ordered officers not to file a crime report on my behalf because I wanted the details of my case listed in the crime report narrative. This would have embarrassed Chief Todd Schmaderer and he directly ordered his staff to silence me by not taking a crime report. I was told that by the Omaha Police Department that Chief Todd Schmaderer spoke with the Omaha's City Prosecutors office and since they would not prosecute the case and that no report was needed. What? Huh? The Chief of Police and the City Prosecutor agreed to not take even a crime report even thought I had concrete physical evidence. Seems fishy don't you think?
No report = No day in court. Seems like a violation of my 14th Amendment and Due Process.
Internal Affairs(IA) Numbers:
In 2018, OPD reported in their annual report that IA received a total of 62 citizens complaints with 206 allegations. That means each officer averaged 3.3 allegations per complaint.
Of those 206 allegations the discipline is broken down as follows:
57 (28%) were "Not Sustained" which means fault could not be determined. It's "their word against mine" there is not enough evidence to prove or disprove the accusation.
35 ( 17%) were "Sustained" which means the officer was found guilty of the allegation. 17% conviction rate.
110 ( 54%) were "Exonerated" which means they were found innocent.
4 (1%) were "Unfounded" which means the charge was falsely made against the officer.
So that means that a whopping 83% of the allegations made against officers by the community had no disciplinary outcome. Reality check. The citizen complaint process MUST be overhauled and the police auditor must be re-instated. We must require, by law, that the police maintain a data base of officers who have current IA allegations filed against them in IA. The data base must include but not be limited to the name, rank, any and all allegations made against the officer, the disposition, the status of the case, accusations made against the officer, and any discipline that was given out to the officer regarding the allegations. It should include data regarding terminations down to written warnings. I fully welcome the review of my IA jacket. Most good cops welcome that review.
In 2018, OPD also reported that it received 73 Internal Investigations reports in the IA unit with total allegations against officers totaling 246. That means each officer averaged 3.4 allegations per complaint when the complaint was generated from inside OPD . An Internal Investigation (II) is an internal reporting process used by OPD for employees to be able to file IA complaints against fellow OPD employees. This includes sworn and civilian positions alike.
Of those 246 allegations the discipline is broke down as follows:
50 (5%) were "Not Sustained"
133 (54%) were "Sustained"
51 (21%) were "Exonerated"
0 were "Unfounded"
3 (1%) were "No Finding/Court Issue".
1 was found to have a "policy failure".
That means that 43% of allegations made against officers by co-workers had no disciplinary out come. More importantly though is 54% of the accusations were found true. This is a huge difference compared to 17% of the officers where found "guilty" when citizens filed the complaint. So according to OPD own numbers that means when good cops snitch on bad cops they are 37% more likely to receive discipline than if the community reports them.
To dig into these numbers deeper I submitted FOIA request P000191-113019. It reads: " I would like the following statistics for all of 2018 an up through Q3 of 2019: Number of reprimands given to sworn officers verse how many were appealed and final disposition. Number of suspensions given to sworn officers (I would like these listed as each category i.e. 1 day suspension, 2 day suspension...up through the maximum of 20 days verses how many were appealed and final disposition. Number of terminations and the number of those appealed and the disposition of those cases. "
OPD responded that in 2018-2019, 198 discipline actions were handed out. The following is the break down of what action was taken against the employee that had the complaint filed against them:
139 (70%) were given written reprimands
1 (.51%) was demoted
2 (1.0%) were allowed to resign in lieu of firing
4 (2.0%) were terminated
52(26%) were given a suspension
Suspensions are seen as a fine for an officer. Each day of suspension costs the officers money. For argument sake, I will average the salary for an officer to $30 per hour. The officers can choose to work and not get paid or can they can forfeit a vacation day. Officers who get multiple day suspensions are often allowed to spread the suspension over multiple pay periods. I mean we wouldn't want to inconvenience a bad cop and make him feel the consequences of his/her bad actions.
The 52 suspensions they were broken down into the following days off assigned:
16 (31%) of suspensions given out were 1 day suspensions (equivalent to a $240 fine)
7 (13%) of suspensions given out were 2 day suspensions (equivalent to a $480 fine)
7 (13%) of suspensions given out were 3 day suspensions (equivalent to a $720 fine)
3 (6%) of suspensions given out were 5 day suspensions (equivalent to $1,200 fine)
2 (4%) of suspensions given out were 7 day suspensions (equivalent to $1,680 fine)
5 (10%) of suspensions given out were 10 day suspensions (equivalent to $2,400 fine)
1 (2%) of suspensions given out were 12 day suspensions (equivalent to $2,880 fine)
3 (6%) of suspensions given out were 15 day suspensions (equivalent to $3,600 fine)
8 (15%) of suspensions given out were 20 day suspensions (equivalent to $4,800 fine)
If you combine the written reprimands and and the 1 day suspensions (139+16=155) and divided by the total complaints (155/198)10=78%. That means that in 78% of Internal Affairs complaints (citizen and II) filed in 2018-2019 against Omaha Police Department employees resolved in a piece of paper or a $240 dollar fine. That seems like a way better deal than going to jail. That right there Omaha is the very definition of the Blue Shield.
Signs of Hope
Omaha Police Co RESPONDED Program
Omaha Police Co RESPONDED Program
Omaha Police Co RESPONDED Program
The Omaha Police Department currently has Licensed Mental Health Therapists available to respond on-scene at calls to help people in crisis. I helped develop this program to bring compassion and healing to those in crisis. If you have contact with OPD, ask for a Co-Responder. They can help.
OPD Peer Support Specialist
Omaha Police Co RESPONDED Program
Omaha Police Co RESPONDED Program
OPD has a full time Peer Support Specialist on staff. A Peer Support Specialist is a person who has experience with mental health issues and is making positive change through their own recovery. The Peer Support Specialist is a positive resource for those dealing with more chronic mental health issues and is a source of compassion and listening for those that feel unheard by OPD.
Crisis Intervention Team Training
Omaha Police Co RESPONDED Program
Crisis Intervention Team Training
OPD has specially trained officers called CIT (Crisis Intervention Trained) Officers. Ask for them. They have gone through 40 hours of certification training in how to deal with someone in a mental health crisis. It is based on the Memphis Model that was established in 1988 in Memphis, TN. It gives officers resources in their tool box other then the ones on their belt.
End of Watch
Zachary Bear Heels
Zachary Bear Heels
Zachary Bear Heels
End of Watch: June 5, 2017.
Zachary was an Oceti Sakowin citizen of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe of South Dakota and was reportedly tasered, punched and dragged by his hair by OPD officers and eventually died in police custody. One officer was fired but found not guilty of assault. The other 3 officers were given there jobs back and are now back to work at OPD.
Ofc. Kerrie Orozco
Zachary Bear Heels
Zachary Bear Heels
End of Watch: May 20th, 2015. Kerrie was shot and killed by an armed suspect as she attempted to place him under arrest for a warrant. Kerrie was a new mom that was due to start her maternity leave the next day. We buried Kerrie in the rain on the day of her funeral. I think it was the collective tears of the Omaha Community that day pouring over us.
George Floyd
Zachary Bear Heels
Rayshard Brooks
End of Watch: May 25, 2020
George was murder by police in Minneapolis, MN. As officers we are specifically taught NOT to do that. My heart goes out the the Floyd family. I am mourning for George in Omaha.
Rayshard Brooks
sGT. Jason Pratt
Rayshard Brooks
End Of Watch: June 12, 2020
Rayshard was murdered by Atlanta Police department. He was shot in the back for firing a taser. There were other options than shooting him and this is not what police call a "good shoot".
sGT. Jason Pratt
sGT. Jason Pratt
sGT. Jason Pratt
End of Watch: September 19, 2003
Jason was shot in the head on September 11, 2003 by a suspect hiding in a bush. Jason fought for 8 days and died on Sept. 19th. He was my classmate and my first police funeral, unfortunately not my last.
Breonna Taylor
sGT. Jason Pratt
sGT. Jason Pratt
End of Watch: March 13, 2020
Breonna was murdered by Louisville Metro police officers as they served a "No Knock" search warrant for drug charges. Breonna was killed as she slept in her bed. That means the police were more worried about the destruction of narcotics than giving Breonna a reasonable amount of time to process who was breaking down her door.
Investigator Luis "Mario" Herrera
Investigator Luis "Mario" Herrera
Investigator Luis "Mario" Herrera
End of Watch: September 7, 2020
Investigator Mario Herrera succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained on August 26th, 2020 while serving an arrest warrant in connection to a homicide.
As officers approached the home two subjects inside, including the juvenile homicide suspect, fled from the house. The juvenile opened fire, striking Investigator Herrera in the chest. He succumbed to his wound on September 7th, 2020.
Investigator Herrera had served with the Lincoln Police Department for 23 years.
Walter Scott
Investigator Luis "Mario" Herrera
Investigator Luis "Mario" Herrera
End of Watch: April 4, 2015.
Walter , an unarmed black man, was shot and killed in by Ofc. Michael Slager, a North Charleston police officer. Slager was charged with murder after a video surfaced showing him shooting Scott from behind. Slager made a plead deal and received 20 years.
Elijah McClain
Investigator Luis "Mario" Herrera
Elijah McClain
End of Watch: Sept 24, 2019
Elijah was stopped and detained by police on his way home from the store for being suspicious. During his detention BWC's shows Elijah stating "I can't breath". Elijah was administered Ketamine by the rescue squad and later died of a heart attack.
My Street Cred
Education
Associate and Bachelor Degree from Methodist School Of Nursing and Allied Health in Respiratory Therapy and worked in that field for 5 years prior to law enforcement.
Masters in Public Administration with emphasis on Criminal Justice and Hospital Administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
My assignments as a officer
- Uniform Patrol Bureau (UPB): Worked every shift and every precinct
- Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB): Worked as a detective to solve burglary's and other property crimes.
My Assignments as a Sergeant
- UPB: Supervised street officers as a front line supervisor on radio calls across the city.
- Mental Health Liaison: After being promoted and I observed inadequacies in our mental health policies within OPD. I asked a lot of questions about the mental health policy and that got me to be assigned to the Region 6 Behavioral Health Taskforce. So in 2001, I re-wrote the EPC policies, started a career long partnership with Region 6 and made OPD mental health response what it is today. I fulfilled this role until the day of my retirement in 2019 and it is the single proudest adventure of my career.
- CIB Pawn Unit: My unit monitored every item pawned in pawn shops in Omaha. We looked for any stolen items and entered all items into a huge data base per city ordinance.
- CIB North Investigations: CIB changed structure into North and South assignments. I was in charge of all property crimes and some person crimes in the area North of Dodge. I was on a task force that cleared up large methamphetamine/burglary crime group and solve a substantial number of burglaries and thefts.
- CIB Gang Unit Intelligence Unit/ FBI Safe Street Task Force: Worked on gathering and maintaining information on crime trends on the gangs in the Omaha area. Worked in tandem with the FBI, DEA, ATF and ICE on multijurisdictional gang/drug/firearm cases. I was in charge of the gang data base for the Omaha Police Department. Just saying.
My assignments as a Lieutenant
Customer Service Unit: Oversaw the customer service unit at police headquarters. This unit handle is staffed 24/7, 365 days a year by sworn officers and civilians. It handles, reports, walk-ins, phone calls and most importantly gun registrations. I was also in charge of the Racial Profiling reporting for OPD. Just saying.
Inspection Unit: I was in charge of making sure the department followed it own policies and did random inspections. This was very educational for me on all the dirty little secrets of the department and how they really don't even follow their own polices. They even forced me to change a report to hide unsafe areas in the old police property unit. Just saying.
Finance Unit: I handled the police's 13 million dollar operational budget, posted and reviewed expenditures and was the travel coordinator for OPD. I saw all the receipts. Just saying.
Risk Management Unit: I oversaw the work compensation Sgt. and helped officers who were hurt in the line of duty. I also handled the asbestos problem in OPD building and the H1N1 outbreak and the mass vaccination of the department during the Omaha floods for Hepatitis.
North Investigations Unit: Oversaw property crimes in the area North of Dodge street.
Robbery Unit: My favorite and most educational position I ever held. We handled all robberies including person, commercial and bank. I also served on the FBI Robbery Taskforce which won awards for our work breaking up a large bank robbery crime group. Jackpot!
Mental Health Liaison (MHL): I created and established funding for a full-time Peer Support Specialist to help community members in crisis, over saw all issues with police and the behavioral health system, I developed and obtained funding for the Mental Health Co-Responder Program, I help start and develop Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training for officers with in the department, I wrote polices, testified in front of legislature and helped draft laws with the policy center. I also help start OPD Threat Assessment Team. I secured roughly 10 million dollars in grants for OPD for their mental health programs and have testified in front of Nebraska legislature regarding mental health reform.
Assignment as a Captain
Southwest Precinct & Traffic Unit: As a senior staff member I commanded the Southwest Precinct and the Traffic Unit. The unit consisted of approximately 150 officers and civilians. Southwest officers covered, at the time, one quarter of the city. The Traffic Unit handled all major dignitary, social and enforcement operations. This is the cash cow of the department for overtime.
Senior staff are in charge of: Radio calls, community concerns, internal affair complaints, budget, major events and visits, community and senior staff meetings, pursuit review committee, grant and policy writing and most importantly be a good leader for your people.
Honors
- Distinguished Service Metal from the Omaha Police Department
- Special Achievement award from the Metropolitan Chiefs Association for work in mental health.
- Spirit of Courage Award from Kim Foundation for work in mental health.
- Award of Excellence from the Omaha Police Foundation for my work in mental health.
- Unit of Excellence Award from Omaha Police Department for my work in the Robbery Unit/FBI Robbery Taskforce.
- Unit of Excellence from Omaha Police Officers Ball for my work in the Robbery Unit/FBI Robbery Taskforce
- Letter of Commendation from Omaha Police Department for a active shooter response.
Law Enforcement Reform Heroes
Community Partners
Community Partners
Community Partners
Community organizations that are leading the charge for law enforcement reform and would like to post your link, please email me. All links posted will be at my sole discretion and I maintain the right to refuse any request. Please note, I will not promote or support any organization that promotes hatred or violence.
Under DEVELOPMENT
Community Partners
Community Partners
I am working hard to build content. If you have someone you would like to nominate to the "Heroes Wall" please email me with your submission. I will require their name, what organization they work for, what change they made. Any postings here will be with the approval of the participant! So please speak to those you would like to submit and get their approval BEFORE emailing me.
Stand Up. Speak Up. Make Change.
Stand Up! Speak Up! Make Change!
For Sworn/Non-Sworn Law Enforcement/Govt Employees:
If you are employed by a law enforcement or government office and you have been a victim or witness to corrupt practices and are scared to come forward I am here to listen and stratgegize with you.
For the public:
I am here to answer your questions within reason. I will not tell you how to get away with any criminal behavior or divulge procedures that would put anyone in harm's way. I love and respect you too much to do that to you.
What will I answer?
Pretty much anything else. How officers are taught to hide details in supplemental police reports? What is a cop's perspective of BLM? How could a cop watch the Rayshard Brooks murder and think that was a "good shoot"? It was absolutely a BAD shoot for the record. What does it feels like to run into a pitch black building after an armed person? What not to do on a traffic stop? What cops actually think about drug reform? What it feels like to draw your gun with the expectation that you may have to use it? What it was like to bury Jason Pratt and Kerrie Orozco? What it feels like to be part of something so rewarding as Law Enforcement and yet embarrassed by it at the same time? How was I part of the problem and what I did I do to change?
What can you do to help?
I am looking for people to help spread the word and help me on this journey. I know a little bit about a lot of things. So, if you are an attorney and want to help me file some court papers, please email me. I could use some help. If you are an IT wizard and want to help with social change, I could use some help. Are you are a social influencer that wants to bring around criminal justice reform? I could use some help. Blogger? Researcher? Activist? I could use some help. This is so much bigger than I could ever believe when I started this journey several years ago and I am not going away.
The world is changing and it's going to get uncomfortable for those in law enforcement. I hope my fellow law enforcement community can Stand Up. Speak Out. Make Change. Trust begins with transparency.
If you have a question or would like to submit content, email me at BlueSnitchOmaha@gmail.com. I will get back to you as soon as I can. It might take me some time to get back to you, I am a one woman show.