With the termination of the Auburn Police Department at the end of 2012, there are currently 10 law officers employed by Nemaha County.

Late last year, the Auburn City Council approved contracting with Nemaha County for its law enforcement coverage. Most recently, the City’s Police Department consisted of four officers, including a Chief of Police, and the City of Auburn paid a monthly fee to Nemaha County for a portion of the jailing/dispatching services and rental of space in the Nemaha County Law Enforcement Building.  
In an effort to better inform our readers about the law enforcement officers providing services in Nemaha County, the newspaper will be carrying a series of officer profiles featuring the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office. These brief officer profiles and photographs will follow over the next few weeks.

Officer’s name and community in which or near where you reside:
Brent Lottman, Peru

Additional pertinent family information:
Unmarried, no children

When did you join the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Department? (you can also include previous law enforcement positions which you held before starting to work here):
Joined the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office in August of 1997 as a deputy and was Chief Deputy from fall of 2000 until becoming sheriff in January 2003.

What part of your job provides the most enjoyment?
I enjoy dealing with people from a social perspective. Unfortunately, probably 98% of the public only sees us when involved in a crash or when stopped for a traffic violation. From a management perspective, I enjoy the challenges of running a public office. Trying to provide a service that must be available when needed while being responsible to the tax payers is a challenge that requires me to always be looking for better ways of doing things while at the same time maintaining at least the minimums required by everchanging statute, regulation and case law.
Realizing that most people don’t need law enforcement on a daily basis creates some obstacles that can be tough to overcome; however, I manage the Sheriff’s Office with the philosophy that is required of other emergency services: When you need a fire truck, an ambulance or law enforcement, that is no time to go and try to find one. It is one of the services that have to be pre-planned and created before the need arises.

Any suggestions on how the public can assist you in better providing law enforcement services in Nemaha County?

There are a couple of things, I believe, that would assist law enforcement: 1) if you see something that looks unfamiliar or out of place, don’t hesitate to call immediately. I recognize things that look out of place in my neighborhood, and try to look for things out of place county-wide; however, who better to recognize things that don’t look right than those who see them everyday and would likely be the first to notice. It is much tougher and takes much more time and resources to investigate days and months after an occurrence. 2) don’t be afraid to be neighborly – if there is a minor problem, don’t be afraid to diplomatically ask the neighbor about the problem.
There are numerous calls that law enforcement responds to which are not criminal, and when the responsible party is made aware of the issue— they correct it, either not being aware of the issue or not realizing it was annoying to a neighbor.  Law enforcement is able to assist in some matters; however, living in a free society, law enforcement is not authorized to force individuals to do or correct things which are not a violation of the law.  While this can be annoying at times, I think valuing our freedom and the responsibility that accompanies it is one of the greatest things we have going for us in the United States.

Dan Johnson, Auburn

Additional pertinent family information:
Wife-Cathy, teaches at Plattsmouth
Daughter-Chelsea, Hartington, Neb.
Son-Tyler, student at UNL
Daughter-Courtney, student at Peru

When did you join the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Department? (you can also include previous law enforcement positions which you held before starting to work here):  
January 2011; however, I have been an active law enforcement officer in Nebraska since 1991

What part of job provides most enjoyment?
Being able to provide assistance to the public when they need help.

Any suggestions on how the public can assist you in better providing law enforcement services in Nemaha County?
It would be beneficial if the public didn’t have the “I don’t want to get involved” mentality and would call us when they see or hear about criminal activity.

Harold Silvey, Auburn

Additional pertinent family information:
Married with three children

When did you join the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Department? (you can also include previous law enforcement positions which you held before starting to work here):
Joined the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office in December of 2004. Began career in law enforcement in 1994

What part of your job provides the most enjoyment?
Helping people

Any suggestions on how the public can assist you in better providing law enforcement services in Nemaha County?
I would encourage the public to report crimes which they see right away.

Eric Adams, Auburn

Additional pertinent family information:
Pam Adams (wife of 32 years), three children and three grandchildren.

When did you join the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Department? (you can also include previous law enforcement positions which you held before starting to work here):
1984 to 1990 worked for Nemaha County Sheriff Department. 1991 to present worked for Auburn Police Department.

What part of your job provides the most enjoyment?
Working with the people of the City and County.

Any suggestions on how the public can assist you in better providing law enforcement services in Nemaha County?
Call information in to the Sheriff’s Office when it happens, not day(s) later.

Jesse Blaser, Auburn

When did you join the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Department? (you can also include previous law enforcement positions which you held before starting to work here):
Auburn Police Department 2003-2007. Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office 2007-present

What part of your job provides the most enjoyment?
Getting to interact with new people every day.

Any suggestions on how the public can assist you in better providing law enforcement services in Nemaha County?
If you see something suspicious call the Sheriff’s Office immediately.

Matthew Kadavy, currently residing in Auburn.

Additional pertinent family information:
Married to Johanna Kadavy, a substitute teacher at Calvert Elementary, and we have a one-year old-son, Everett.

When did you join the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Department? (you can also include previous law enforcement positions which you held before starting to work here):
I have been a Deputy with Nemaha County for three years.

What part of your job provides the most enjoyment?
My favorite part of being a Nemaha County Deputy is being able to meet and help new people on a daily basis.

Any suggestions on how the public can assist you in better providing law enforcement services in Nemaha County?
None given.

Casey Moyer, Resident of Auburn

Additional pertinent family information:
Wife, Alicia and two sons: Isaiah and Gavin

When did you join the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Department? (you can also include previous law enforcement positions which you held before starting to work here):
I became a Nemaha County Deputy in 2008.  Prior to Law Enforcement I spent a year with the Nebraska Department of Corrections as a Substance Abuse Counselor. I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Peru State College and spent eight  years in the Army Reserve.

What part of your job provides you the most enjoyment?
The thing I enjoy most about being a Deputy is meeting good people and being able to help people out. I am really looking forward to teaching D.A.R.E. this spring in Auburn as well as the Johnson-Brock public schools.

Any suggestions on how the public can assist you in better providing law enforcement services in Nemaha County?
I would encourage the public to report crimes/suspicious activity as it is happening or a soon as possible rather than days or hours after the fact. I would also encourage persons reporting crimes to try to get as much detail as possible about a suspect or suspect vehicle that may be involved in criminal activity.  Another thing the public could do to help out would be to photograph and record serial numbers for machinery, guns, electronics or anything else of value that could be used to trace the item in the event it would be lost or stolen.

Deputy Jon Neeman, Auburn

Additional pertinent family information:
Deputy Neeman is originally from Nebraska City, where his father, Lonnie Neeman, is the Captain of the Nebraska City Police Department. Deputy Neeman married his high school sweetheart, Kalea Molloy, also of Nebraska City, in April of 2012.

When did you join the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Department? (you can also include previous law enforcement positions which you held before starting to work here):
Neeman was an Auburn Police Officer from September 2011 until the Auburn City Council voted to go county-wide in December of 2012. Neeman joined the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office at the beginning of 2013.

What part of your job provides the most enjoyment?
Neeman’s favorite aspect of law enforcement is getting to meet new people and giving back to the community.

Any suggestions on how the public can assist you in better providing law enforcement services in Nemaha County?
Deputy Neeman suggests that people can help the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office by being observant and making themselves and their property difficult targets for criminals. Examples of way to help include locking doors and vehicles, keeping garage doors closed, and turning on exterior and interior lighting in and around your home at night. Also, keeping an up-to-date list of valuable items and their serial numbers can help law enforcement recover and return your stolen items.

Dan White, Auburn resident since June 1993

Additional pertinent family information:
Six children: Matthew, Des Moines, Iowa); Heidi, Omaha; Brittany, Columbus, Neb.; Alana, Nicole and Aidan of Maryville, Mo.

When did you join the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Department? (you can also include previous law enforcement positions which you held before starting to work here):
December 2012,  full-time;  
January 2011 through November 2012 on part-time basis;
Chief of Police, City of Auburn, September 2000 through December 2010;
Auburn Police Officer, August 1995 through September 2000;
Deputy Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office, January 1995 through September 2000.
Lieutenant Deputy Sheriff, Floyd County Sheriff’s Office in Charles City, Iowa, August 1974 through February 1985.   
I moved to Nebraska where I was Manager of Tractor Supply Company, Columbus, and then came to Auburn as Manager of Bradley’s Family Footwear.

What part of your job provides the most enjoyment?
Helping and serving the citizens of Nemaha County and routine interaction with the public.

Any suggestions on how the public can assist you in better providing law enforcement services in Nemaha County?
Building a better partnership between the law enforcement agency and the individual citizen. I encourage citizens who observe suspicious activity or violations to alert law enforcement when they are happening. Also, I would like to encourage people to not leave firearms in vehicles, especially unlocked vehicles as such thefts have been reported more than once as of late.

Jeff Timmerman, Auburn

Additional pertinent family information:
One child

When did you join the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Department? (you can also include previous law enforcement positions which you held before starting to work here):
I started at the Auburn Police Department in November 2006 and joined the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Office on January 1st, 2013

What part of your job provides the most enjoyment?
I enjoy interacting with the public and getting to know new people.

Any suggestions on how the public can assist you in better providing law enforcement services in Nemaha County?
If you believe there is criminal activity going on do not hesitate to call law enforcement.