At a Thursday press conference, Omaha Mayor John Ewing said he will be working with the Omaha Police Department to implement training for both police officers and residents on how to handle traffic stops with weapons involved.
The announcement comes days after boxing champ Terence “Bud” Crawford was held at gunpoint and handcuffed during a traffic stop in which police say they saw a gun on the floorboard of the car.
Crawford and his security guard, who was also armed, were legally in possession of the guns when they were pulled over. But Ewing said a Nebraska law passed in 2023 which made it legal to carry a concealed firearm without a permit has made traffic stops “significantly more difficult and more dangerous for the citizens as well as the police officers.”
Ewing, a former deputy chief with the Omaha Police Department, said officers currently have some discretion in how to handle traffic stops after a person declares that they have a firearm. Under the 2023 law, citizens must “immediately alert” any law enforcement officer that they interact with that they are in possession of a concealed weapon.
“One of the things we’re going to do is we’re going to examine what we’re currently doing with traffic stops when it comes to traffic stops with weapons involved,” Ewing said. “We’re also going to look at examining traffic data to ensure that we know what is actually happening with the traffic stops that we are conducting, so that we can develop the training that officers need to be able to be successful.”
Ewing also said he and Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer are working to ensure that the police force is fully staffed so officers have more time to engage with community members and build positive relationships.
The day before the traffic stop, Crawford had been part of a daylong celebration in his honor. More than 20,000 people attended a parade and celebration to celebrate his unanimous victory over Canelo Alvarez on Sept. 13 – making him the first man to win an undisputed title in three weight classes. The daytime celebration was capped off with a large party at the Steelhouse venue in downtown Omaha.
Crawford was pulled over in the early morning hours of Sept. 28. A video posted to TikTok by a backseat passenger captured part of the interaction, which showed an Omaha police officer pointing a gun towards Crawford through the open driver’s side window while instructing him to get out of the car.
“I’m opening the door,” Crawford can be heard saying before he steps out of the car. “”I’m not reaching for no gun.”
In a statement released later on Sept. 28, the Omaha Police Department said Crawford was pulled over shortly before 1:30 a.m. after an officer “observed a vehicle driving recklessly” near 12th Street and Capitol Avenue. Police said the officer saw a gun on the driver’s side floorboard and ordered all four occupants out of the car at gunpoint “for safety.”
Crawford was cited for reckless driving, according to police.
Schmaderer approved an internal investigation into the handling of the traffic stop. The police department is expected to provide additional information about that investigation on Friday.