Kearney Police Dept

Youth Citizens Police Academy Coming in June, 2026! Apply today!!

Several members of KPD were recently honored at the Law Enforcement Awards Banquet for their outstanding service, dedication, and professionalism. 🏆 Uniformed Patrol Bureau “B Shift” – Team of the Year 🏆 Crime Analyst Amy Schmidt – Civilian Employee of the Year 🏆 Officer Joshua Stokey – Sworn Officer of the Year While KPD is fortunate to have many deserving individuals, these recipients, who were nominated by their peers and supervisors, truly represent the best of the best. Congratulations, and thank you for your continued commitment to serving our community!

Strong March/April winds can SPRING your everyday items into hazards and even cause injury! 💨💨 Take a few minutes to secure outdoor furniture, trampolines, and loose items around your home. Your neighbors (and their fences) will thank you!

MULTIPLE SCAMS ALERT!!! The Kearney and Buffalo County area have been receiving a higher than usual amount of SCAM calls and texts the last couple of days. Some of these calls and texts may come from a 308 area code and frequently from a number you may recognize or have in your phone contacts. Here are a couple examples of the SCAM calls or texts you may receive: Here is one of the texts you may receive: Final Notice from Nebraska DMV – Enforcement Starts March 8 Records confirm you have an unresolved traffic ticket. Under State Administrative Code 15C-16.003, if not paid by March 7, 2026, the following will take effect on March 8: 1. Report to DMV violation records 2. Vehicle registration suspension 3. 30-day license suspension 4. Referral for collection with 35% added fee 5. Risk of prosecution and credit score effects Pay today to prevent license and registration issues. Pay Now: Final Notice from Nebraska DMV – Enforcement Starts March 8 Records confirm you have an unresolved traffic ticket. Under State Administrative Code 15C-16.003, if not paid by March 7, 2026, the following will take effect on March 8: 1. Report to DMV violation records 2. Vehicle registration suspension 3. 30-day license suspension 4. Referral for collection with 35% added fee 5. Risk of prosecution and credit score effects Pay today to prevent license and registration issues. Pay Now: nebraska.org-jhihg.bond/dmv (Reply Y to reopen the message and use the link, or copy it to your browser.) A phone number it may come from is 931.980.6946 The recent phone call states something similar to the following: The person says they are a Deputy and sometimes give a name. They say you have missed a court date or jury duty and may say there is an arrest warrant for you. They also say it can be handled if you pay a fine. THESE ARE A SCAM EVERY SINGLE TIME. Law enforcement never communicates in this way and never accepts or requests payment in any of the methods they tell you to pay through. Just hang up and never ever give them any information at all. If you have questions you may call the non-emergency phone number for Kearney Police Department at 308-237-2104.

We’re happy to share that the new version of P2C is back online, with select features currently available. We know how important transparency and access to information are for our community. Our command staff has been working closely with our software vendor to bring the information back in a way that meets the needs and expectations of the people we serve. While work is still ongoing, we wanted to make these tools available now as additional features and improvements continue to be developed. Currently available features include: • Current Inmates • Submit a Tip • Extra Patrol Request • Citizen Feedback Thank you for your patience and understanding while we worked through this transition. We appreciate your continued support and look forward to bringing more features online soon. kearney-pd-ne.zuercherportal.com

Recently, the Kearney Police Department sent officers to three specialized trainings across Nebraska to strengthen their knowledge, skills, and ability to serve our community with excellence. These trainings included: • CTK Evidence-Based Interview & Interrogation (Kearney) – Investigator Beard, Investigator Flynn and Investigator Garrels • NTOA SWAT Team Leader Development (Lincoln) – Sergeant Hibberd and Investigator Stewart • Behavioral Threat Assessment Training (Lincoln) – Sergeant Miller and School Resource Officer Epley KPD is a strong supporter of 21st Century Policing and the continued development of its six pillars (Building Trust and Legitimacy, Policy and Oversight, Technology and Social Media, Community Policing and Crime Reduction, Officer Training and Education and Officer Safety and Wellness), as outlined in the Final Report of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing. We are proud of these officers for their commitment to professional growth and providing exceptional service to the City of Kearney.

On Saturday, our officers had the honor of handing out medals and awards at the Special Olympics Bowling Competition at the Kearney Big Apple. 🏅🎳 The determination, joy, and pride on every athlete’s face remind us why events like this matter so much. Being part of these moments, celebrating hard work, sportsmanship, and community is truly a blessing every time. Thank you to the incredible athletes, families, and volunteers who make the Special Olympics so special. 💙 #Community #SpecialOlympics #Kearney @sonebraska

Today, the Kearney Police Department proudly recognizes National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day! We extend our heartfelt thanks to our dedicated School Resource Officers who serve as mentors, role models, educators, and protectors in our schools every single day. Their commitment to building positive relationships with students and staff helps create a safe and supportive learning environment throughout our local schools. Our SROs go above and beyond the badge offering guidance, fostering trust, and strengthening the connection between law enforcement and our community’s youth. Their presence makes a lasting difference in the lives of so many students. Please join us in thanking our School Resource Officers for their service, dedication, and the positive impact they make each day! 💙

Couldn’t have said it better Chief! A big thanks to the KHS Hope Squad for inviting us out this morning! #HopeSquad #HighFiveFriday #SuicideAwareness @KearneySchools @KearneyHigh

Help us celebrate Sergeant Newell on 15 years of service with the Kearney Police Department! Sergeant Newell currently serves as the Uniformed Patrol Bureau B Shift Supervisor. His dedication, leadership, and commitment to our community are commendable, and we are grateful to have him as part of the KPD team. Congratulations on this well-earned milestone, and thank you for 15 years of service! 🚔💙

Big thanks to the Kearney Noon Rotary for inviting the Kearney Police Department to their noon meeting! Chief Kowalek, Officer Luke, and Lt. Luke shared how KPD uses drones, including a live demo, to enhance officer and community safety. Great questions and strong support from Rotary members. Proud to serve such an engaged community!

The new public parking lot east of the Buffalo County Courthouse recently opened and is in use. There are new crosswalk signs on Central Ave to alert drivers of the crosswalk. Please be alert to pedestrians and stop for any pedestrian in the crosswalk. ⚠️🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️⚠️ Nebraska statute 60-6,153 states …the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk who is in the lane in which the driver is proceeding or is in the lane immediately adjacent thereto by bringing his or her vehicle to a complete stop. (2) No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to stop. (3) Whenever any vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass such stopped vehicle.

We had an awesome group of homeschool students visit the Law Enforcement Center today! 👏 Their curiosity and great questions made for a fun tour as Officer McLaughlin and Training Coordinator Officer Faz highlighted the skills and training used by KPD officers and BCSO deputies. Inspiring the next generation and keeping our community safe, what a great day! 👮‍♂️🚔

This morning, KPD officers received an overview of the Centegix Safety Platform from Mr. Schwartz, Director of Student Services & Safety for Kearney Public Schools. The platform was implemented at the start of this school year and has already been in use by our School Resource Officers since August. Access is now being expanded to our uniformed patrol officers and criminal investigators. “Time is critical during emergency situations. Centegix has significantly improved communication between school staff and our School Resource Officers, resulting in faster response times and an even stronger partnership between KPD and KPS,” - Lt. Small, Special Services Unit. We appreciate the continued partnership with Kearney Public Schools and their shared commitment to keeping students, staff, and our community safe! @_Centegix @KearneySchools

Please join us in congratulating Officer West on successfully completing the Kearney Police Department Field Training Program. Officer West attended the 220th Session of the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center and, upon graduation, immediately began the Field Training Program. Today, he officially starts his solo assignment with the Uniform Patrol Bureau, “A” Shift. We wish Officer West a long, safe, and successful career in law enforcement! 🚓

Kearney Police Arrest Suspect Involved in Terroristic Threat Incident On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at approximately 2:15 p.m., Kearney Police Officers responded to the 1800 block of West 43rd Street Place regarding a disturbance involving a man with a firearm. Officers contacted two victims, a 31-year-old female and a 36-year-old male. During the investigation, officers learned that prior to the 911 call, 57-year-old Ryan Kuhn had threatened the victims with a handgun and damaged a vehicle belonging to one of them. No shots were reported to have been fired during the incident. Due to the nature of the report, the Kearney Police Department/Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services Unit, Hostage Negotiators, and Drone Teams were activated. Officers contacted Kuhn by telephone and determined he was inside his residence. Following a brief negotiation, Kuhn peacefully surrendered and was taken into custody without incident. A Buffalo County Search Warrant was obtained and served at Kuhn’s residence, where a firearm was recovered. Kuhn was arrested and lodged at the Buffalo County Jail on two counts of Terroristic Threats, two counts of Use of a Weapon to Commit a Felony, and one count of Criminal Mischief. The parties involved were known to each other and this was determined to be an isolated incident. There is no ongoing threat to the public. The Kearney Police Department is committed to keeping the residents of this community safe and anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the Kearney Police Department at (308) 237-2104. KPD would also like to thank the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office and Buffalo County Attorney’s Office for their assistance in this investigation.

Today on National Law Enforcement Spouse Appreciation Day, the Kearney Police Department recognizes the spouses and families who stand behind our officers. Your strength, patience, and unwavering support make a difference every day. Law enforcement is not just a career; it’s a family commitment. Thank you for the sacrifices you make and for supporting those who serve our community. We are grateful for you today and always. 💙

🚔 Big day for our Uniform Patrol Bureau as officers completed the annual shift bid for the 2026–2027 year. It’s an important process and a great chance to reconnect across shifts. #Teamwork 🍕 Thank you to Domino’s Pizza of Kearney for providing a meal for our officers! #CommunitySupport

Today we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. A pastor, leader, and advocate for peace. Dr. King believed deeply in serving others, leading with compassion, and bringing people together peacefully through understanding and respect. On MLK Day, we encourage our community to reflect on his message and how simple acts of kindness, service, and unity can continue to make a difference every day.

On Tuesday at the City Council meeting, newly promoted Sergeants Austin Hibberd and Derrick Hosick were officially sworn in. We are extremely proud of both of them and look forward to their continued leadership and service within our department. Congratulations, Sergeants! You may notice a familiar face in the final photo. Retired Sergeant Ryan Ohri, former badge number 315, attended the ceremony and had the honor of pinning the new badge 315 on Sergeant Austin Hibberd. This continued mentorship and involvement exemplify what makes the Kearney Police Department such an outstanding agency. Although Sergeant Ohri has retired from law enforcement, he remains a valued supporter of the department and its members.