NEBRASKA CITY - Ben Murry took the oath of office Tuesday as the new Nebraska City police chief.

Mayor Bryan Bequette introduced Murry, who was among two internal candidates.

Murry, 54,  became an EMT in 1989 and was certified through the law enforcement academy in Missouri in 1991. In 2001 he attended the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center and was elected sheriff in Kimball County in 2007. He moved back to Nebraska City police in 2009 and was promoted to sergeant in 2017.

Mayor Bequette said Murray has been a field training officer for the Nebraska City/Otoe County emergency services team, a liaison officer with Nebraska Information Analysis Center and instructed in various fields including taser, tactical operations, CPR and records management. He is a volunteer firefighter and EMT, a board member of the DHS opioid steering committee, and mental health response committee with Region V.

Bequette: “As a supervisor he brings a desire each day to bring himself and others to be better in service to each other, as well as each person, to provide guidance as needed to generate enthusiasm and develop partnership.”

Police Cpt. Lonnie Neeman served as interim chief after the retirement of David Lacy, but Mayor Bequette said he did not apply for the chief position.