Chadron’s newest police officer joins the department as one of its most experienced.
Dusty Bryner, who took his Oath of Service at last night’s city council meeting, is an 18-year law enforcement veteran and was most recently police chief in Hemingford.
Bryner began with the Alliance Police Department, including 6 years as an investigator and the department’s member of the WING drug task force.
He then joined the Hemingford Department, becoming chief in December 2015 and resigning in March.
Chadron Police Chief Rick Hickstein says that Bryner will serve as an investigator and will also be the department’s member of WING.
Chief Hickstein also says Bryner gives the department a dozen full-time, fully certified offices – twice as many as at this time last year.
There are still 3 vacancies and Hickstein says he’s continuing to look for qualified individuals to fill those positions.
Meanwhile, Hemingford is negotiating a contract with Box Butte County for law enforcement services from the Sheriff’s Office, an arrangement similar to that between Crawford and Dawes County.
Hemingford has struggled for years to keep a 3 or 4-officer department fully staffed. In fact, Bryner had been the only officer most of the past year.
Box Butte County Sheriff Tammy Mowry and the Hemingford Village Board both support the idea of contracting and hope to see one signed as soon as possible.
Box Butte County Attorney Terry Curtiss and Hemingford Village Attorney Libby Stobel have been working on a tentative contract with the split of costs and equipment needs among the biggest discussion points.