Senator Ricketts’ Weekly Column: Backing the Blue

This week is National Police Week. It’s a time to thank the law enforcement officers who keep us safe. Officers across Nebraska work hard to prevent crime and protect families. They face danger and serve with courage. I’m fighting to give them the tools and resources they need. 

 Nebraska’s women and men in blue are a model for the rest of the nation. For example, the Omaha Police Department has achieved a 100% homicide clearance rate each of the last two years. Meanwhile, the national clearance rate sits below 60%. Omaha continues to see murder rates decrease every year. In fact, the number of murders in Omaha has decreased in each of the last four years. Their success is a testament to their commitment to excellence. 

I am also grateful for the work Nebraska law enforcement officers do to keep deadly drugs like fentanyl off our streets. When the drug situation at our nation’s southern border went from crisis to catastrophe, the Nebraska State Patrol stepped up. In my last year as governor, state troopers confiscated two times as much methamphetamine, three times as much fentanyl, and ten times as much cocaine as just two years prior. They did this work despite the Biden Administration’s terrible open border policies. 

Nebraskans back the blue. Communities in our state respect and rely on our local police. We support our officers with better tools, training, and strong laws. When I was Governor, we passed one of the most comprehensive law enforcement and public safety packages in Nebraska’s history. We provided for retention bonuses, education benefits, and improvements to retirement plans for our police. We invested $47.7 million to expand the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center in Grand Island. We also upgraded our State Patrol Crime Laboratory to the tune of $16.9 million. These investments equipped officers with world-class training and tools to keep people safe. 

As Senator, I’m working with President Trump to secure the border and ease the burden on local law enforcement. We passed the HALT Fentanyl Act. The law will permanently classify fentanyl and its analogues as Schedule I substances. It will lead to harsher sentences for fentanyl traffickers. Less fentanyl means fewer overdose deaths, like the tragic loss of Taryn Lee Griffith. By cracking down on drug dealers and cartels, we’re making our streets safer. 

I’m also fighting for policies that will deter anti-cop attacks. That’s why I was a co-lead of the Back the Blue Act and am currently co-leading the Thin Blue Line Act. This bill would increase penalties for criminals who target law enforcement officers. It also would provide new tools for officers to protect themselves. It would help deter violent criminals from targeting our law enforcement officers. Police groups support it. I’ll keep working to send it to President Trump’s desk.

This year’s Police Week resolution in the Senate honors one Nebraskan, Ross Bartlett. Barlett was a police officer at the Ceresco Police Department in Ceresco, Nebraska. He was killed in 2024 as he was conducting a traffic stop. The driver of another car was allegedly texting while driving, drifted onto the shoulder of the road, and struck Officer Bartlett’s patrol car.

Officer Bartlett’s family was in D.C. this week. They rented an Airbnb in Maryland. When their Airbnb host, who as it turns out is a Capitol Police Officer himself, found out why Bartlett’s family was here this week — he comped them the rental. That demonstrates the brotherhood and sisterhood of law enforcement officers.

We honor Officer Bartlett’s service and remember him this week — and every week.

 Police officers don’t ask for praise. They ask for the tools and resources to do their jobs with excellence. Every badge represents someone ready to serve and protect. These women and men stand between danger and our communities. They protect our homes, our families, and our future. Their bravery should not go unnoticed. We must back the blue. 

Please join me in expressing our gratitude for their important work — not just during Police Week, but every week. If you see an officer, say thank you. 

As always, my team and I are here to serve you. Contact us by phone at 202-224-4224 or visit www.ricketts.senate.gov.