The Omaha Police Officers Association raised the alarm Friday on what the group calls an urgent and dangerous staffing crisis.
In a widely shared Facebook post, the police union wrote that from March 1 to April 4, some areas of the city typically covered by five to 10 officers will be covered by one. That means that for more than a month, there will be an 80% or greater reduction in force in some of Omaha’s busiest precincts, according to the officers association.
“Over the past year, policing has become more dangerous than ever,” the Omaha Police Officers Association wrote. “Officers are being attacked and shot at at alarming rates in Omaha, all while working with fewer resources and less backup.”
Staffing shortages have plagued the department for years. In 2024, former Mayor Jean Stothert restructured pay scales for Omaha Police officers to increase wages by $9.8 million. That change increased salaries for all officers to the highest level in the state.
When elected in 2025, Mayor John Ewing pledged to close the gap in staffing. His proposed 2026 budget increased the 2026 police department budget by more than $13 million, or 6.6%. The move continues the salary initiative launched by his predecessor.
On Friday afternoon, Ewing announced that the City of Omaha had reached a tentative labor agreement with the Omaha Police Officers Association and with the Police Managers Association, which represents Chief Todd Schmaderer and five deputy chiefs.
Both two-year contracts offer back-to-back wage increases – 5.58% for 2026 and 6.4% for 2027, as established by city ordinance prior to Ewing’s election.
New to both contracts are provisions providing parental leave to police officers, as well as addressing the potential impact artificial intelligence might have on employment and policing generally.
In a press release, Ewing said the contracts represent stability in the Omaha Police Department and a way to fulfill his pledge of building the sworn ranks.
“We are working hard to fill our sworn police ranks,” Ewing said. “The contracts reflect an effort to recruit and retain officers to keep our city and its residents safe. I am proud of the department under Chief Schmaderer’s leadership and want to see us hit our goal of filling all 906 spots.”
Schmaderer said the OPOA contract was “important in recognizing that Omaha police officers work a dangerous job and assume a vital role in our society.”
The police department’s 2026 budget is $233.2 million. As of July, the department was down 115 officers.
Eleven recruits are expected to complete training on April 4 and offer short-term relief, the officers association wrote, but the organization said that increase does not fix the long-term staffing crisis, with around 300 more police officers eligible to leave in the next three years.
Despite the shortage, Omaha in 2025 saw a 10% year-over-year reduction in overall crime.There was an increase in homicides, with 26 compared to 19 in 2024, but that number remains below the city’s historic average.
The police department has three 2026 recruitment classes planned for January, July and December.