
Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister addresses protesters May 30 at the state Capitol. Bliemeister announced Tuesday he will resign in January to take a job with Bryan Health.
Chief Jeff Bliemeister will leave the Lincoln Police Department for a job at Bryan Health after leading Nebraska's third-largest police force for the last four years.
In a news release, Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird thanked the chief for work the past few years to increase the size of the police force and for his exemplary service and leadership in a challenging year.
“Chief Bliemeister increased efforts to strengthen relationships with our community by improving transparency in police practices, connecting with our communities of color, and embracing accountability measures," Gaylor Baird said. "We will miss his contributions to our city team, but I know his dedication to keeping our community safe will continue in his new role.”
Bliemeister expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the city and the county over the past 24 years, first at the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office and then with LPD.
“I was fortunate to work with so many talented and passionate individuals," Bliemeister said. "I am proud of them, as I saw the positive impact they made.”
Bliemeister will serve as Bryan Health's safety and security manager and begin his duties there next month.
“We’re thrilled to have him here,” said Bob Ravenscroft, the hospital organization's vice president of advancement.
Bliemeister's last day at the police department will be Jan. 8.
In 2016, then-Mayor Chris Beutler selected Bliemeister, chief deputy sheriff for Lancaster County, from a field of six candidates identified in a national search to succeed retiring chief Jim Peschong.
Former Police Chief Tom Casady was the city's public safety director at the time, and he recruited Bliemeister to apply.
"He rose to the top in a field rich with talent, and I was never disappointed," Casady said. "I think he's done a fantastic job."
Since he took the job, Bliemeister has worked to increase the size of the police department, overseen the launch of the department's body camera program, the expansion of the school resource officer program and overseen a series of high-profile investigations ranging from a fatal southeast Lincoln house explosion to the disappearance of Sydney Loofe.
In a news release, Lincoln Police Union President Brad Hulse congratulated Bliemeister on his new position and said officers in the department will miss his leadership and dedication to public safety.
"For the last four years, he has worked tirelessly to increase our staffing levels, ensure that we have the necessary equipment and training to protect and serve the Lincoln community, and educate the public about the challenges that Lincoln police officers face every day," Hulse said.
But 2020 brought perhaps the most tumultuous year for the department under Bliemeister, as police responded to rioting and unrest arising from protests against police brutality nationwide in late May and early June, the shooting death of Officer Mario Herrera in September and a lawsuit filed in November alleging a toxic work culture against women.
Herrera, who was fatally shot while trying to arrest a suspect, was the first Lincoln police officer killed in the line of duty in 52 years.
As chief, Bliemeister provided essential support for the police department in the wake of Herrera's death, the mayor said.
Bliemeister had recently announced with the mayor a new effort to increase the department's diversity and had worked with the T.R.A.C.E. initiative and Hold Cops Accountable group on policing reforms and measures to improve relationships between the community and officers.
City policymakers and police oversight officials had praised Bliemeister and the department for its review of the actions taken by law enforcement in response to unrest stemming from the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
“He doesn’t dig his heels in when he’s confronted with difficult situations,” said Citizen Police Advisory Board member Scott Hatfield, adding that Bliemeister's "head and heart are in the right place."
But the chief has also been criticized. In late November, a former Lincoln officer sued the city, alleging a toxic culture toward women there and retaliation against those who report it.
Sarah Williams said when she raised concerns to supervisors all the way up to the chief, nothing was done. Williams, now with the Omaha Police Department, said she was pressured to name another female officer who told her she'd been sexually assaulted by a male officer, but that the department did nothing to investigate it.
Her attorney, Kelly Brandon, said Bliemeister and other high-ranking officials within the department and the city "have known about the pervasive discrimination of female officers at LPD for years and have done nothing to protect female officers or provide a safe and non-discriminatory work environment for them."
In a statement, the chief said: "The Lincoln Police Department does not tolerate discrimination and will continuously work toward creating an environment where our employees feel safe."
Asked Tuesday for comment on any link between the lawsuit's allegations and Bliemeister's departure, city spokeswoman Diane Gonzolas said "there was no connection."
Bliemeister is the second local law enforcement leader this year to leave his post for a private sector position after former chief deputy Lancaster County Sheriff Todd Duncan left for a job with the Omaha Public Power District earlier in the year.
Fanchon Blythe, who organized pro-police rallies this summer and is critical of the mayor, said Bliemeister's departure comes as more than a dozen police chiefs in metropolitan police departments across the country have resigned, retired early or left their jobs.
She called Bliemeister a dedicated man who was respected by his law enforcement peers and city residents.
"He has endured a lot," Blythe said.
Assistant Chief Brian Jackson will serve as acting police chief as the city looks for a permanent leader. He served as acting chief immediately prior to Bliemeister's hiring.
With Bliemeister's departure, Gaylor Baird will have stand-in chiefs atop the city's two public safety agencies following the retirement of Lincoln Fire Chief Micheal Despain. Lincoln Fire & Rescue is currently led by interim chief Dave Engler.
Gaylor Baird plans to evaluate the fire chief position in the spring, the city has said.
"This is going to be difficult for the city," said Casady. "They had two standouts in Mike Despain and Jeff Bliemeister. Both of them will be hard acts to follow."
BLIEMEISTER'S TENURE AS CHIEF:

Lincoln Police Department Chief Jeff Bliemeister addresses protesters May 30 at the state Capitol.

Black community leaders and Lincoln Police Department personnel, including Malone Center Executive Director John Goodwin (from left), Lincoln Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister, former Husker offensive lineman Jerald Foster and Malone Center community activist Ishma Yusaf Valenti, kneel in silence at a memorial outside the Malone Center in June. After early summer protests, a new initiative called TRACE has worked to examine the work of police and improve community engagement.

Lynn Ayers (center), retiring executive director of Child Advocacy Center, talks with Lincoln Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister as Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner looks at old photos with wife Rhonda Wagner in late June at Ayers' retirement party at the center's former location in Antelope Park.

Lincoln Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister reads a statement at an Oct. 8, 2019, news conference following an incident at the south Lincoln Chick-fil-A.

Lincoln Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister gets a hand from Capital Humane Society employee Kaylene Beal on Sept. 5, 2018, as he gives "Jack" his first bath since the dog was put up for adoption. The chief "won" the task after the police department fell short in the "Battle of the Badges," a face-off with Lincoln Fire & Rescue to see which department brought in the most blood donors in a drive for the Lincoln Community Blood Bank.

Lincoln Chief of Police Jeff Bliemeister (left) talks with Mayor Chris Beutler during the spring 2018 Police Academy graduation ceremony at Lincoln North Star High School.

Chief Jeff Bliemeister and Brayan Carrango ponder the possibilities as they head off on a shopping adventure. Lincoln police officers took 60 kids shopping at Super Target during their annual Shop with a Cop event Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017.

Saline County Sheriff Alan Moore (from left), Nebraska State Patrol Col. John Bolduc, FBI Special Agent in Charge Randy Thysse (at lectern) and Lincoln Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister announce developments in the disappearance of Sydney Loofe on Dec. 5, 2017, at the Hall of Justice in Lincoln.

Lincoln's Chief of Police Jeff Bliemeister (center) looks at silent auction items with his wife and daughter (from left) Roni and Ellie on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017, during the Santa Cop Auction at the Center For People In Need.

Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister speaks at a news conference Sept. 25, 2017, at the Jayne Snyder Trails Center.

Lincoln firefighters enjoy the moment as Lincoln Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister washes a ladder truck Sept. 6, 2017, at Fire Station 1 after Lincoln Fire and Rescue won the Nebraska Community Blood Bank's "Battle of the Badges" blood drive.

Kelly Tucker (from left) Lancaster County Chief Deputy Jeff Bliemeister, Sen. Heath Mello, Sen. Burke Harr, Attorney Gen. Jon Bruning and Sen. Danielle Conrad look on as Steve Tucker speaks about the dangers of K2 during a press conference announcing the attorney general's legislative package Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014 at the state Capitol. Steve and Kelly Tucker's son Billy, 18, died after using K2 in October, and part of the legislative package will include a bill updating the state's ban on the substance.
Reach the writer at 402-473-2657 or rjohnson@journalstar.com.
On Twitter @LJSRileyJohnson.