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Detective Legband, Officer of the Third Quarter

The Excellence in Law Enforcement Committee selected Detective Legband as Officer of the Third Quarter of 2008. Detective Legband demonstrated performance above and beyond that which is routinely expected.

In June of 2008, Detective Legband concluded a ten month investigation of a felony shoplifting from Menards, involving shock collars for dogs. The same suspects had stolen similar items throughout the metro area, and were of particular interest since these shock collars are sometimes used to remotely detonate explosive devices. Detective Legband worked with the FBI as well as several other federal and state agencies, and was eventually able to positively identify the suspects and request warrants for their arrest.

In September, Detective Legband investigated a suspicious death. The case was extremely involved and numerous family members believed it was a homicide. Detective Legband used his extensive experience and training to evaluate the evidence at the scene and conduct follow up interviews, and was able to determine the death was a suicide. Detective Legband was instrumental in explaining the case to the family and repeatedly meeting with them to hear their concerns and eventually gaining their acceptance of the cause of death.

In addition to his work on high profile cases, Detective Legband has established himself again and again as a detective who can be counted on to carry out any assignment without complaint, no matter how distasteful it may be. He possesses superior skills when it comes to processing crime scenes, and has gotten more AFIS matches on prints he has lifted than any other detective in the unit. In addition to his regular duties, Detective Legband also tracks all the pawn watches for the department, and routinely checks all metro area pawn shops. This has resulted in countless arrests and the recovery of numerous stolen items. Detective Legband is also quick to share his vast acquired knowledge with other detectives, which helps increase the overall work product of the unit.

Honorable Mentions
2008 Officer of the Third Quarter

Those officers receiving honorable mention were Officers Franks and Towey

In August, Officer Towey worked a domestic violence case which resulted in the arrest of the male subject for False Imprisonment. The circumstances were unusual and Officer Towey did a great job thinking 'outside the box' to find the appropriate charge.

In August, Officer Towey received positive feedback on the department website from a man who had contacted him with questions regarding credit card fraud occurring in another jurisdiction. Despite the fact that we didn’t have a crime here in Bellevue, Officer Towey took the time to help the man, and impressed him so much that he wrote to tell us about it!

Officer Towey possesses superior knowledge of proper search and seizure protocol. He consistently demonstrates his thorough knowledge of search and seizure law by serving as a role model and mentor for his fellow officers.

In August, Officer Towey worked a belated child sexual assault case involving three victims, now adults. The case was very complex and would have been difficult and time consuming for many officers. Officer Towey broke it down and simplified it, making quick work of a situation that might have intimidated others. His judgment and experience paid off again.

In September, Officer Towey worked a child abuse involving a licensed daycare facility. Again, a very complicated case was made seemingly simple by Officer Towey. It was a very thorough investigation.

Officer Towey continues to develop professionally. He recently requested a school and has received training on crisis intervention. He is quickly becoming an expert among his peers in this area and has shown a continued interest in learning more.

The Sarpy County Sheriff’s Department needed assistance locating a suspect. The suspect had threatened to kill someone else as well as himself. He said he would not be taken alive. The suspect was believed to be armed when he was last seen running into a cornfield near 144th and Giles. Officer Franks met the Sarpy County Deputies and began forming a plan. Franks used his extensive training and experience and properly evaluated the tactical situation. Franks formed a security search team and requested support from the Nebraska State Patrol helicopter. Working with his canine partner, PSD Spike and the deputies, Franks found the suspect lying motionless in the cornfield. Franks used proper contact and cover tactics, arresting the suspect without injury to himself, other deputies, and the suspect. Without Officer Franks’ professionalism, the suspect could likely have evaded capture or injured one of the deputies on scene.