OMAHA- Last Tuesday night, the candidates for Douglas County Sheriff were given the opportunity to share their visions and debate important issues at the Nebraska Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #2 in Douglas County.
The main issues discussed between candidates Aaron Hanson, a republican police sergeant, and Greg Gonzales, a retired deputy police chief and democrat, were deputy recruitment, employee retention, public safety, and patrol presence.
When asked what he believes makes his campaign stand apart from Hanson’s, Gonzalez stated that he will put greater emphasis on retention, community engagement, and the reduction of violent crime. Gonzalez also stated, “ It’s going to be very important that you have a sheriff that, one, understands management, understands budgeting, and understands what it takes to build relationships.”
Hanson stated that he and Gonzalez share similar views and goals, but that there are also some key differences. Hanson’s main focus is to keep Douglas County safe by expanding its police force in proportion with the county’s population growth. He also aims to promote retention through an increase in salaries and benefits, and wants to implement a pretrial supervised release program. Hanson also intends to create a program which would allow several deputies to assist judges and probation officers in the re-entry of previously-incarcerated individuals.
Gonzales has made clear his distaste for such a program, stating that it would turn deputies into “glorified probation officers.” However, despite their differences, both candidates agreed that the force needs to expand to better suit the needs of the county.
Both candidates support an increase in salary and benefits for deputies. Hanson believes that dispatchers, while integral to the system of policing in Douglas county, should not be making more than some deputies. He stated, “We have got to honor our front-line deputies, sergeants, lieutenants. And I know by the numbers that your wage scale is too low.”
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