Ricketts touts law enforcement endorsements in Nebraska U.S. Senate race

U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, right, speaks about public safety as Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers, left, and Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine, center, listen. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

OMAHA — Republican U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, running to fill out the remainder of his first term in federal office, rolled out some law enforcement union endorsements Tuesday.

The former Nebraska governor received endorsements from the Omaha Police Officers Association and the Nebraska Fraternal Order of Police in his race against Democratic nominee Preston Love Jr.

Ricketts, who was appointed to former U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse’s seat, was flanked Tuesday by Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers and Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine.

Both unions and prosecutors described Ricketts as the best choice for public safety, pointing to his support for state and federal funding to boost recruiting and retention of law enforcement officers.

Union remembers Ricketts

Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson, a former Omaha police union leader, said Ricketts understands what local law enforcement needs and is willing to ask for experienced feedback when he doesn’t.

“He is always constantly ready to problem-solve with us to make sure that the federal government is either ready to assist or get out of the way,” Hanson said.

Patrick Dempsey, the union’s current president, credited Ricketts for defending local officers after the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer, when public tensions flared.

Dempsey said Ricketts helped push for legislation that made Nebraska more attractive to out-of-state law enforcement officers and seeks stronger federal penalties for harming officers.

“Governor Ricketts stood by law enforcement when so many … took the easy way out and chose to support bad ideas like the Black Lives Matter movement,” Dempsey said.

Love wanted more give and take

Love, a longtime Omaha civil rights leader, has named his voter-outreach project in North Omaha “Black Votes Matter.” Following Floyd’s death, Love called for dialogue and reconciliation.

He has emphasized an approach to public safety that takes into consideration the need for police agencies to rebuild trust in some communities and to hold bad actors in uniform accountable.

Love recently touted some endorsements of his own. He has been backed by the Nebraska State Education Association, the state chapter of the AFL-CIO and the Communication Workers of America.

On Tuesday, Ricketts emphasized investments as governor in the state law enforcement training center in Grand Island and efforts to help offset higher education costs for officers.

Ricketts said his next federal public safety priority would be addressing mental health needs that he said too often fall on law enforcement officers and city and county jails.

Border security also an issue

Ricketts and Hanson spent much of the public safety talk on border security. Republicans have highlighted the issue partly to boost conservative turnout in the general election.

Ricketts said he opposed the bipartisan border bill that Republicans killed in February at former President Donald Trump’s urging.

The senator criticized the bill from. Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., and backed by union leaders in law enforcement at the border as still allowing too many people to cross the border.

“President (Joe) Biden had all the authority he needed to be able to secure the border,” Ricketts said. “President Trump was able to bring those crossings down.”

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX