OMAHA - Next year, Nebraskans will be able to find a list of some trouble officers online.

Governor Pete Ricketts signed Legislative Bill 51 this spring that includes several police reform measures; one of which is a requirement for a public list of officers who have been decertified, have a serious misconduct on their record, or were found guilty of a felony or Class I misdemeanor.

The list will include the officer's name, rank, agency, reason for being on the list, how they were disciplined, and a signature from the chief of police or sheriff that affirms the accuracy.

Currently, if one were to request misconduct records from Omaha Police, they would be denied due to exemptions in public records law. Exemptions in public records law allow the Omaha Police to deny the request, but their contract with the police union forbids it unless the officer specifically allows it or it is appealed beyond Human Resources.

State Senator Terrell McKinney of Omaha said, "Police misconduct shouldn't be a secret."

The serious misconduct that must be listed are actions that "have a rational connection to the person's fitness or capacity to serve." Specifically, fabrication of evidence, repeated excessive force, bribery, fraud, perjury, and sexual assault.

Police agencies did not have to report serious misconduct to a state agency up until recently.

Incidents having taken place after January 1 of this year will be included and must be online before July 1, 2022.

"It's important for the public to know who the good and bad officers are in the community, to create a level of transparency and accountability," McKinney said.

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