Lincoln Police Department staff want to serve

Lincoln Police Department Officer Joshua Neri said he always knew he wanted to be an officer. "My dad was a police officer so as I grew up, I was inspired by seeing him in his gear," Neri said. Neri has been in law enforcement for three years. He started off working for a department in the Bay Area for two years and then transferred to Lincoln one year ago. His father, though, wasn't thrilled about Neri following in his footsteps during such a dangerous time to be a police officer. "I worked through the George Floyd protests in the Bay (Area)," Neri said. "It was terrible to see a big clash between the police and the community." George Floyd was a 46-year-old Black man who was murdered in May 2020 in Minneapolis by Derek Chauvin, a White police officer. Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes while Floyd was handcuffed and lying face-down in the street. This sparked outrage throughout the United States and protestors demanded justice for Floyd's death. Neri said that he was sometimes looked down on for being an officer in the Bay Area because of social media posts. The public's attitude in some places is especially negative because of the narrative spread about cops being racist and brutal, Neri sai.d. "I was happy to get away from that environment and move to Lincoln. This is a good place to work and raise a family," Neri said. "The community here is very supportive and makes me feel appreciated." He said work has its tough days but "Lincoln provides a lot of good resources such as support groups and mental health services." Neri said he also enjoys hanging out with his partners during off days because they tend to open up and relax. "Striking a balance between home and work is the hardest part of the job," said Lincoln Public Safety Chief Matt Alves. "My job demands a large amount of my time and focus. At the same time, my family does as well. Finding that balance is always difficult." Alves has been with the Lincoln Police Department for 23 years. He decided to become a police officer because, Alves said, he "always had the desire to help people in need. There are times when people need help and I want to do whatever I can to positively impact their situation." Alves currently oversees the Police and Fire departments. "Though both departments are public safety, both with similar goals in mind, police and fire are very different. It's been a challenge learning how to manage a fire department but I've been incredibly fortunate to take this on at this point in our history," Alves said. "I grew up in Lincoln and this is a great community. I feel honored to be in a position where I can help shape its future while keeping in mind its history and preserving its legacy," Alves said. "We feel the support from our community and we are thankful for the relationships we have. In working together, we'll strive to keep crime low and Lincoln safe as the city continues to grow."