Omaha PD In Memoriam

by Mach 5 | Jul 25, 2023 | Uncategorized

: K9 Kobus was shot and killed while attempting to apprehend a subject who had barricaded himself inside of his home, near the intersection of North 83rd Street and Keystone Drive, for over 24 hours. The standoff started when Douglas County sheriff’s deputies attempted to take the man into custody following on a mental health warrant. The subject fired at deputies who had gone into the residence to retrieve a robot that became stuck inside. K9 Kobus was deployed into the house to apprehend the subject but was shot and killed. The man surrendered a short time later and was taken into custody. K9 Kobus has served with the Omaha Police Department for six years and was due to be retired in the coming months.

: Detective Kerrie Orozco was shot and killed as she and other members of the Metro Area Fugitive Task Force attempted to serve a warrant on a man wanted for a shooting in September 2014. The subject opened fire on the officers as they approached a home near the intersection of Read Street and Martin Avenue. Members of the task force returned fire, fatally wounding the man. Detective Orozco was transported to Creighton University Medical Center where she succumbed to her wounds. Detective Orozco had served with the Omaha Police Department for seven years. She is survived by her husband, newborn daughter, and two stepchildren.

: Police Officer Gregory Hamill died after he and two other officers contracted the H1N1 flu virus while searching a house during a narcotics operation on January 30th, 2014 Officer Hamill’s condition quickly deteriorated and he died from complications of the virus on February 19th, 2015. Officer Hamill had served with the Omaha Police Department for 12 years. He is survived by his wife and two children.

: Sergeant Jason Pratt succumbed to a gunshot wound he sustained one week earlier. Sergeant Pratt was assisting officers in searching for a man that had fled from a vehicle after it was stopped by officers. As they approached the corner of 34th Avenue and Corby Street, the suspect appeared from behind some bushes and opened fire, striking Sergeant Pratt in the head. Three other officers returned fire, killing the suspect. Sergeant Pratt was taken to Creighton University Medical Center where he remained in a coma until his death one week later. Sergeant Pratt was promoted to the rank of sergeant the before he passed away. He had served with the Omaha Police Department for 8 years and was assigned to the Northeast Precinct. He is survive by his wife, two daughters, parents, and brother. His brother serves with the Lincoln Police Department.

: Officer Wilson was shot and killed after he pulled over a van for having fictitious plates. He had radioed in his location just before two of eight gang members exited the side of the van and opened fire on him with an AK-47 and a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol. Officer Wilson was killed while still sitting in his cruiser with his seat belt on a microphone in his hand. The suspects ranged from 14 to 20-years-old. One suspect was found guilty on March 22, 1996, of First Degree Murder. The suspect was a member of the Bloods street gang and had stated to his gang members that he was not going to back to jail before opening fire on Officer Wilson. Officer Wilson had been with the agency for 16 months and was survived by his fiancee and parents.

: Officer Nields was shot and killed after responding to an officer needs assistance call on North 25th Street at 0045 hours. The suspect had barricaded himself inside of a home and officers had fired tear gas into the residence. As Officer Nields and other officers rushed the front door, the suspect opened fire with a 12 gauge shotgun, fatally wounding Officer Nields. Other officers returned fire and killed the suspect. Officer Nields is survived by his wife and two sons.

: Officer Larry Minard was killed when a booby-trapped briefcase with three sticks of dynamite exploded at a house at Ohio and North 28th Street. The briefcase was found on the floor of a vacant house and exploded as Officer Minard attempted to move it. Seven other officers were injured in the incident. Two suspects, member of the black Panthers, had lured the officers there with a 911 call. Both were convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. On March 12, 2016, one was found dead in his cell at the Nebraska State Penitentiary. The other suspect remains in prison. Officer Minard had served with the agency for seven years. He was survived by his wife and five children.

: Officer John Costello was killed in a motorcycle accident while on patrol. His motorcycle collided with a car at the intersection of 48th Street and Center Street. He remained unconscious from the time of the accident until his death nine days later. Officer Costello was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII. He was survived by his wife and five children.

: Detective Treglia was shot and killed by a burglary suspect while he and another detective transported the man to jail. The man produced a hidden gun and shot both detectives, fatally wounding Detective Treglia. The other detective returned fire and killed the suspect. The detective then took Detective Treglia to Nicholas Senn Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds a short time later. Detective Treglia was survived by his wife and two children.

: Officer Chamberlin was killed in a motorcycle accident while attempting to stop a speeder. Another car pulled into his path at the intersection of 48th Street and Dodge Street, causing a collision. Officer Chamberlin was survived by his wife.

: Officer Wolfe was shot and killed while he and his partner attempted to arrest two robbery suspects. The suspects fled in a vehicle and led the officers on a pursuit. The suspects vehicle crashed and the they opened fire on the officers with shotguns, striking Officer Wolfe in the chest. One of the suspects was shot and killed by responding officers and the other suspect was arrested. Officer Wolfe was survived by his wife.

: Officer Sullivan was shot and killed while conducting a robbery stakeout at a local service station. Officer Sullivan was concealed inside a small room in the service station when two suspects entered and attempted to rob the attendant. The suspects heard Officer Sullivan and then exchanged shots with the officer. Officer Sullivan was shot four times and fatally wounded. One of the suspects, a 20 year old youth, was arrested along with his 19 year old brother who drove the get-away car, four days later. The other suspect, a 17 year old youth, was captured in Stockton, California a week later. The suspect who drove the get-away care was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The other two were convicted of Officer Sullivan’s murder and sentenced to life in prison on April 29, 1931. In 1940 the sentence of one of the suspects was reduced to 22 years. Officer Sullivan was survived by his wife.

: Detective Sergeant Kruger was shot and killed when he and another detective stopped two men wanted for bank robbery in Haiwatha, Kansas. The other detective was handling one suspect when Sergeant Kruger observed the second suspect attempting to conceal a weapon. Sergeant Kruger grabbed the man’s arm but the man pulled his arm away and drew a weapon. The suspect then shot Sergeant Kruger in the back six times as he attempted to take cover. The other detective shot and killed the suspect. The other man was returned to Kansas where he was convicted of bank robbery and sentenced to 10 to 40 years in prison. Detective Sergeant Kruger had been with the agency for 11 years and was survived by his wife.

: Sergeant William Davis was killed in an automobile accident at 31st Street and Curtis Avenue. The patrol car he was riding in was stuck by a construction vehicle. He was transported to Nicholas Senn Hospital where he died a short time later.

: Detective Frank Aughe was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a robbery suspect in a store at 16th Street and Williams Street. The suspect had just robbed another store before entering the second store. Three detectives observed him enter the store and followed him in. The man opened fire on the officers and began to flee but was stopped by Detective Aughe. A struggle ensued and Detective Aughe was shot six times and killed. The suspect was convicted of Detective Aughe’s murder and sentenced to life in prison on March 26, 1924. In 1925, during an escape attempt, the suspect and three other inmates killed a penitentiary clerk. He was convicted of murder and received another life sentence. Detective Aughe was survived by his wife and daughter.

: Officer Scott was shot and killed shortly after removing three men from a business at 31st Street and A Street. After removing the men Officer Scott returned to his normal patrol duties. The three suspects located him a short time later and shot him to death. Officer Scott had been with the agency for only three months.

: Detective Cooper succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained three days earlier while investigating a burglary. Detective Cooper had arranged to meet the suspect under the pretense that he was the owner of the property and was to have it returned. When he met the suspect they began walking and the man suddenly turned and shot him three times at the corner of 17th Street and Howard Street. Detective Cooper was taken to Clarkson Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life on February 17, 1921. In 1941 he was granted a commutation of his sentence and as a result he was left with only three more years to serve. Detective Cooper was survived by his wife and daughter.

: Detective Frank Murphy succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained one week earlier while attempting to question a man. Detective Murphy and other detectives observed a man matching the description of a robbery suspect. The detectives called out to the man and as Detective Murphy stepped from his vehicle he was shot. One of the other detectives returned fire fatally wounding the suspect. Detective Murphy’s wound became gangrenes and he died as a result. Before Detective Murphy and the suspect died they met each other at the hospital where they discovered that they had been best friends during their childhood. Detective Murphy was survived by his wife.

: Detective Rooney succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous day when he and several other officers raided a cabin where six gang members who had just robbed a jewelry store on Dodge Street were located. In a resulting gunfight Detective Rooney was mortally wounded and two suspects were wounded. Five suspects were taken into custody at the scene. One who escaped was captured several weeks later. Detective Rooney was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital where he died the following day. All six suspects were charged with Detective Rooney’s murder. Two were convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison. One of them was pardoned by the Governor a year later. The other suspect was paroled November 21, 1928. Detective Rooney served with the agency for 10 years and was survived by his wife and daughter. He is buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Omaha, Nebraska.

: Officer William Good was shot and killed after arresting a man for domestic assault at approximately 1:00 am. While Officer Good waited for a wagon to pickup the prisoner the man produced a revolver and shot Officer Good. The man then returned home and attempted to murder his wife before committing suicide.

: Detective Ring was shot and killed while assisting two railroad policemen who were investigating the robbery of several boxcars. The officers went to the home of one of the suspects but were told to leave when they knocked on the door. Detective Ring was shot with a .44 caliber revolver as he attempted to look through a window into the home. One of the suspects committed suicide and the other was apprehended a short time later.

: Policeman Edward Lowry was shot and killed as he escorted a prisoner to the police station. The man had been arrested for having an inappropriate relationship with a 17-year-old female. As the two walked to the police station the man pulled out a handgun and opened fire, mortally wounding Policeman Lowry. The suspect was convicted of Policeman Lowry’s murder and sentenced to death, but the Nebraska Supreme Court subsequently reversed the verdict. During a second trial, he was found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced to 14 years in prison. He was then furloughed by the governor after serving only five and a half years, and then deported from the United States. Policeman Lowry had served with the agency for 5 years. He was survived by his wife and four children.

: Officer Lafayette Smith was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a robbery suspect. He had observed a man and woman struggling in the street at 0045 hours and attempted to arrest the man. During the ensuing struggle Officer Smith was shot by the suspect. The suspect was later shot and critically wounded by a detective before being taken into custody. He died in the hospital nine days later. The suspect was one of three men arrested for the murder of Police Officer Charles Mayer of the St. Paul, Minnesota Police Department on February 1, 1902. All three men were released because of a lack of evidence and a key witness refusing to testify. Officer Smith had served with the agency for six years and was survived by his wife and son.

: Detective Drummy was shot and killed at 1805 hours while attempting to question a man about the robbery and shooting of another Omaha police officer. As Detective Drummy and another detective approached the suspect the man produced a revolver and shot him in the head. The other detective returned fire and killed the suspect. Detective Drummy was survived by his wife and five children.

: Officer Tiedeman was shot and killed while chasing three burglary suspects. He interrupted the men burglarizing a saloon at 13th and Spaulding. As the men fled one of them turned around and fired a shotgun, striking Officer Tiedeman in the stomach. Officer Tiedeman was able to make it to a nearby fire station where he died. A man and his two sons were arrested and charged with Officer Tiedeman’s murder. One of the sons was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. On October 15, 1901, Governor Ezra Savage, who had doubts about his guild, commuted his sentence to time served and he was released. Four months later he granted him a full pardon. Officer Tiedeman was survived by his wife and daughter.

: Constable McCheane succumbed to stab wounds received the previous night at 2315 hours when he attempted to arrest a man at a tenement house at 13th and Webster. The suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to 10 years. On April 18, 1871, he and nine other inmates escaped from the Nebraska Penitentiary. Constable McCheane was survived by his wife, six daughters, and a son by a previous wife.

: Officer Welch was shot and killed while attempting to escort a drunk soldier from the Nebraska 1st Regiment from a beer garden. The suspect suddenly pulled out a revolver and shot Officer Welch. The suspect was taken into custody but later escaped. Officer Welch was survived by his wife.