Rep. Flood at Norfolk Daily News: Nebraska Backs the Blue

Nebraska has been getting the word out across the country — that our state backs the blue. Even as respect for law enforcement has waned in some quarters, Nebraska has doubled down on our commitment to supporting our peace officers.

Earlier this year, I convened a coalition of law enforcement leaders under the theme of “Nebraska Backs the Blue.” It is a movement aimed at getting more Americans to consider becoming law enforcement officials in Nebraska from both within and outside of the state. We are a loose coalition of elected officials, law enforcement officials and community leaders who want to get the message out: Nebraska wants more peace officers to choose the Good Life.

Nebraska Backs the Blue isn’t just about aspirations or marketing messages. Our state has been taking concrete steps to position itself as the best state in the nation to serve in law enforcement, and we want more people to know about them.

Two years ago, before I came to Congress, I was the proud co-sponsor of the Law Enforcement Attraction and Retention Act in the Nebraska Legislature. This bill provided a variety of cash incentives for individual officers to help law enforcement agencies retain their workforce. It received nearly unanimous approval from the body.

Last year, the Legislature passed the First Responder Recruitment and Retention Act. It covers 100% of tuition for law enforcement officers or firefighters who want to get a degree related to their career.

And we’ve been working to take our movement to Washington and to Americans from across the country.

During Police Week this month, I welcomed members of the Lincoln Police Department to Washington as the Nebraska Crime Commission used a mobile digital billboard to highlight Nebraska’s support for law enforcement. The billboard hovered near National Police Week Tent City where officers from around the country gathered in the Capital City.

On Capitol Hill this past week, the House passed S. 546, also known as the Recruit and Retain Act, a bipartisan measure championed by U.S. Senator Deb Fischer. This commonsense measure provides reasonable flexibility to the existing COPS grant program at a time when law enforcement agencies are facing headwinds in recruiting new officers. I applaud Senator Fischer and the bipartisan coalition that helped deliver this important legislation, and I urge President Biden to sign it into law.

There’s more we can do. Nebraska should continue to protect qualified immunity. While some states have repealed traditional protections for law enforcement, Nebraska has continually maintained qualified immunity. This is critical to ensuring that law enforcement officers can do their jobs without the threat of frivolous lawsuits or complaints.

Even with these significant steps, Nebraska can’t stand still. We must continue to position ourselves as the best state in the nation for law enforcement officers to live, work, and raise a family. Our state offers a full range and wide variety of opportunities available in law enforcement. The Nebraska State Patrol is the finest statewide agency in the nation. Our two biggest cities have fantastic large agencies that provide lots of opportunities to advance, or if you want to grow your career in a smaller agency, our small and mid-sized communities have a plethora of options.

There truly is an opportunity for every person considering a job in law enforcement — and it comes with a low cost of living and competitive salaries.

If you want to learn more about what my team and law enforcement agencies are doing through Nebraska Backs the Blue, I encourage you to visit www.flood.house.gov for more information under the “Services” section. To keep up to date with the latest about Nebraska Backs the Blue, I encourage you to sign up for my “Flood Watch” newsletter on my website. My team will keep you up to speed on all the latest details.