The city council meeting in Lincoln turned into an emotional display of frustration on Tuesday night as plusieurs police officers voiced their concerns about the leadership and functioning of the Lincoln Police Department. Notably, this discussion unfolded in the absence of the mayor, who had been reported absent during the holiday season.

A standout moment occurred when Investigator Hill, who has dedicated 23 years to the department, read his resignation to the council. Despite being just 21 months from qualifying for retirement benefits, he decided to resign, citing a lack of resolution to internal issues he had previously warned about.

“I never lied to you or to the public,” Hill stated. He emphasized the importance of maintaining high ethical standards and hoped others would do the same. He also mentioned that following his resignation, his time card came into question, which he denied was falsified. Hill expressed dissatisfaction with what he saw as selective usage of body camera footage, raising concerns about its implications for ongoing legal cases.

“I know many of you have seen clips from the executive body camera, but those clips don’t represent the entire situation—they’re just snippets,” he remarked. “We need to ensure our records are properly maintained and secured.”

Hill indicated that many of these problems could have been addressed earlier if they had been taken seriously.

Other officers echoed similar sentiments during the meeting, sharing that the department is facing significant challenges and struggling to attract new personnel.

One officer warned, “We can’t afford to lose investigators. If this continues, the department will collapse and the community will pay the price. This is unacceptable for everyone involved.” Another added, “We’ve done everything required of us, yet here we are, feeling hopeless.”

Community members present showed their support for the officers, expressing worries about the department’s future and commending those who stepped forward.

During the session, Mayor Pro Tem Brandon Tate suggested eliminating the Deputy Chief position from the budget, arguing it was a move to save funds that could instead go toward hiring two patrol officers. However, the proposal was rejected in a 3-2 vote.

Councilman Billy Pearson, who opposed the suggestion, indicated that it had already been discussed in a previous executive session. He mentioned not receiving further updates and that he would need to consult with the mayor if this issue resurfaces before making any changes to his stance.