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RANDOLPH – Randolph is still without local police service as its new police chief continues to work on becoming certified.
It’s unknown where Randolph’s police chief Kannesha Nept is at in the certification process but Randolph Mayor Dwayne Schutt said he’s “hoping we’re close.”
“We’re still working hard with the police academy,” he said last week, adding he talked personally to the director about the process. “I hope it all comes to an end here real soon. I called and checked myself. It just takes time. It’s not an easy process.”
It may take another five weeks, likely longer, to complete steps required to be a police chief, according to information provided by Mark Stephenson, director of the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center (NLETC) in Grand Island.
With a law enforcement certification from out of state, Nept is required to go through the Nebraska Law Enforcement Officer Reciprocity Certification. Requirements include submitting paperwork showing training already received and letters from agencies where she was previoiusly employed, and a $200 fee. Nept is linked to law enforcement agencies in Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Tennessee and South Dakota.
This first step in submitting all of the required documents can cause the most delays, Stephenson said.
“The most common are delays in the applicant providing adequate records of previous curriculum hours for use in the comparison,” he said. “If they are short hours to meet the Nebraska curriculum, they are required to obtain the training. The other delay normally is with completing the application packet. This is all of the information used to process the applicant and information used to complete their background investigation.”
Another fee applies to sit for the required testing, both a physical and cognitive exam. An applicant can choose from two different physical tests.
The first option, Physical Readiness Entrance Test, requires a vertical jump, one-minute pushup, 300-meter sprint, one-minute sit-up and 1 1/2 mile run with standard minimums based on gender and age.
For example, a woman in her 30s would be expected to jump 11.1 inches vertically, do at least nine pushups in one minute, complete the 300-meter sprint in 82 seconds or less, do at least 22 sit-ups in one minute and run 1 1/2 miles in 16 minutes and 46 seconds or less.
The other physical test option is to complete a list of 36 physical tasks ranging from running up and down three flights of stairs to holding a 200-pound struggling person for at least four minutes, Stephenson said.
The cognitive test is a written exam of law enforcement knowledge.
A study guide is provided to each applicant. A passing grade is 70 percent or higher.
Ninety percent of applicants pass the cognitive test and physical test on the first try, Stephenson said.
The NLETC holds reciprocity exams once per month for officers with certifications in other states to become certified in Nebraska. Exams were held April 30 and May 21 and the next one is June 18.
An applicant is given two opportunities to pass each of the exams. If an applicant fails to obtain certification through the reciprocity program, they must attend the full basic 15week law enforcement training.
After passing the reciprocity certification, two more courses are required to become a police chief, Stephenson said.
The first is an in-person 32-hour management course at the NLETC that requires a 70 percent passing test at its conclusion, he said. The other is an “intense” online course on Title 79 Administrative Law which requires about four weeks to complete coursework.
Nept was hired to replace Pat Eller as Randolph’s police chief with an annual salary of $63,000. She started mid-March. Although Eller was set to retire March 31, he stayed on an extra month to allow Nept to complete reciprocity and police chief requirements.
When April 30 rolled around, Nept remained uncertified and Eller exited for retirement. Tony Backer worked under Eller as a part-time officer but resigned from the police department earlier this month. In the meantime, the Cedar County Sheriff’s Office or Nebraska State Patrol will respond to calls in Randolph but won’t be able to enforce any city ordinances like a police chief would.
The Randolph Times first reported the city not having a local police presence on May 8.
Mayor Schutt said the newspaper article — not the lack of police — “put kids in danger.” In a phone interview with the Times, Schutt said he didn’t feel the newspaper was treating the city fairly and has been telling Randolph residents to not advertise with the newspaper as a result.
Last fall, the city council approved the purchase of a new police vehicle - a 2023 Ram 1500 Classic pickup truck - for $42,000. Without a certified officer to use it, the vehicle has been parked in a city shed since May 8.
The old police cruiser - a 2016 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor four-door sport utility vehicle - has been put up for sale.
The vehicle will be sold through online auction at bigiron.com with bids taken until Wednesday, June 5.
As of Tuesday morning, online bidding was at $1,300. Kelley Blue Book value lists the vehicle at about $10,000.
City Administrator Sheila Korth said she doesn’t expect to get that much due to all of the police features and its condition “but you never know,” she said.
The vehicle is in Randolph and the buyer will have to complete required paperwork before gaining possession of it, she said.
