Kearney Police Chief named next superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - Gov. Jim Pillen has named Kearney Police Chief Bryan Waugh as the next superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol.

The announcement was made Thursday afternoon during a news conference at the Nebraska State Capitol. Colonel John Bolduc, Lieutenant Governor Joe Kelly and Sen. Stan Clouse were also in attendance.

Chief Waugh will take on his new role with NSP on June 2. He will replace Col. Bolduc who is retiring on May 4 after serving as NSP’s superintendent since 2017. He is retiring due to the NSP mandatory retirement age of 60.

“Aligned with our community, our state, local and federal leaders and exceptional outlined law enforcement partners, and most importantly our Nebraska State Patrol team, I am eager, motivated and committed to leading our premier law enforcement organization into the future,” Chief Waugh said.

His goals include honoring the past, living in the present, and reimagining the future.

“I will lead with humility, compassion and confidence,” he said. “I will listen, observe and communicate with a genuine interest, and set realistic goals with public safety as our top priority.”

Chief Waugh has nearly 32 combined years of law enforcement experience, serving 21 years with the La Vista Police Department, prior to making the move to Kearney.

He was appointed Chief of Police for the Kearney Police Department in January 2019.

The City of Kearney said Chief Waugh served the Kearney community with distinction for the past six years, demonstrating exceptional leadership, unwavering dedication, and a deep commitment to public safety.

“Chief Waugh’s selection as Superintendent is a tremendous honor and a testament to the caliber of leadership we’ve been fortunate to have in Kearney,” said Brenda Jensen, Kearney city manager. “We are proud to see him take this next step in his career and know he will serve the people of Nebraska with the same excellence and integrity he brought to our community.”

Under his guidance, the Kearney Police Department has made tremendous strides in officer training, community engagement, and departmental innovation. The city said in a release that Waugh’s impact will be felt for years to come, and they are immensely grateful for the contributions he has made to the city.

“He has led a growing department, achieving accreditation and launching programs like the mental health co-responder initiative and a citywide license plate reader system that sparked a statewide effort,” Gov. Pillen said.

Originally from West Virginia, Waugh served four years of active duty as a U.S. Air Force security police/law enforcement specialist at Offutt Air Force Base. He had two tours of duty in Southeast Asia during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Southern Watch/Enduring Freedom.

Waugh holds multiple law enforcement certifications, including through the FBI. He is president of the Police Chiefs Association in Nebraska. Waugh earned his master’s degree in administrative leadership from the University of Oklahoma.

Until Waugh begins his new position in June, Gov. Pillen has appointed Lt. Colonel Jeff Roby to serve as the interim superintendent for the Patrol.

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