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Fifteen School of Criminology and Criminal Justice Graduates Join the Omaha Police Force

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Omaha – The Omaha Police Department welcomed 55 new law enforcement officers to the force on March 15, 2019. More than 25 percent of those newly-minted police officers hold a Bachelor’s of Science degree from the UNO School of Criminology and Criminal Justice.

Gaylene Armstrong, Ph.D., professor and director of the School was not surprised to learn that so many of the new officers were graduates of the program.

Our criminal justice program prepares graduates for a wide range of career options.

 Gaylene Armstrong, Ph.D., director, UNO School of Criminology and Criminal Justice

“Our criminal justice program prepares graduates for a wide range of career options, so it’s not uncommon for our graduates to find top quality jobs as probation or law enforcement officers as well as other positions that serve our people in communities,” Armstrong said. “It’s a highly versatile degree that can lead to several different career paths. Versatility and strong career prospects are some of the reasons our BS degree is so popular at UNO.” She noted that the SCCJ joins forces with several local agencies to provide meaningful, hands-on internships, which can help graduates get started in the careers of their choice.

UNO's undergraduate degree in criminology and criminal justice has long been well-respected in academic circles, being named one of the top online degree programs in the country by U.S. News & World Report. The Master of Science in criminology and criminal justice ranked first in the nation. The SCCJ ensures their degree programs in criminal justice are as accessible as possible. Course work can be completed entirely online, or on campus, in either Omaha or Lincoln.

All 55 new police recruits successfully completed an intensive 23-week training prior to graduating from the Omaha Police Training Academy and will be undergoing an additional 15 weeks of field training. According to information released from the Omaha Police Department, this recruiting class boasted greater diversity than any other class in OPD history, welcoming several multilingual and three foreign-born individuals.

Congratulations to all 55 new officers, and in particular to those who are alumni of the UNO School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, including: Kylee Askew, Adam Barcal, Bryson Blandford, Samantha Casey, Christopher Crockrom, Michael Hansen, Timothy Lesher, Abdul Mir, Daniel O’Donnell, Daniel Ortiz, Michael Pena, Jerrid Sorman, Corey Stopak, Brittney Taylor, and Steven Wilson.

Continue to make us proud and stay safe!