Alliance Police Chief John Kiss has retired after 30 years with the department in 2 stints and 21 years as chief.
He had announced his retirement this fall, saying he expected to serve through the end of the year, but instead made the move on Wednesday. No successor has been named.
Kiss, a Florida native, spent 6 years in the Air Force after graduating from high school with his final 2 years in Rapid City at Ellsworth AFB.
He earned his police certification from the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training center in 1980 and joined the Alliance Police Department in 1986 – earning a bachelor’s degree from Chadron State while serving as a patrol officer.
He had advanced to sergeant when he left for a law enforcement position in Kansas in 1986. Kiss returned to Alliance a decade later as Lieutenant and Operations Commander, then became chief in 1999 after the retirement of Robert Jatczak
Kiss says he’s always been committed to community policing concepts, leading him to created a Police Citizen Advisory Board and to join the Latino Advisory board to build positive relationships between law enforcement and the public
He also developed and put into use a Police Operations Manual that has been adopted or adapted by multiple law enforcement agencies in the Panhandle.
As he moves into retirement, Kiss says he looks forward to seeing more Husker games, traveling, learning to play the piano, and spending more time with his family – wife Lynette, their 6 children, and 17 grandchildren.
In lieu of a retirement party, a concession to the coronavirus pandemic cards can be sent to Kiss at 1212 Hammonds Lane, Alliance, NE, 69301.