With fall around the corner, hunting seasons will begin to heat up. Travis Shepler is an Assistant Administrator with the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission's Law Enforcement Division. In this episode, he sits down with Captain Vik, Chief Deputy Houchin, and Sheriff Wagner to talk about how public safety meets the outdoors in Lancaster County and throughout Nebraska.

Travis Shepler's path to become a game warden. Game & Parks overview. Game wardens in Nebraska. How to become a conservation officer. Game & Parks enforcement within Lancaster County. Cooperation between LSO and NE G&P. Seasonal changes in the job. Common violations and enforcement issues. Larger investigations. Hunting safety and education.

LSO's Tactical Response Unit or TRU Team has grown into a highly trained, organized, and equipped group within the office. Tasked with everything from high-risk warrant service to rescue and recovery - they are the responders front line deputies call for emergency support. Investigator Jeremy Schwarz sat down with Sheriff Wagner, Chief Deputy Houchin, and Captain Vik to discuss the unit's role, history, and modern day operations at LSO.

Jeremy's path to LSO. The TRU Team's humble beginnings. Why "TRU"? Growth and changes over the years. TRU today. Members and positions. Equipment loadouts. Examples of deployments. TRU selection and training. How the TRU makes Lancaster County safer. Interoperation with other SWAT teams.

Deputy Brian Piitz is a School Resource Officer (SRO) currently assigned to Malcolm and Raymond Central Public Schools. On this episode, Deputy Piitz joins Sheriff Wagner and Captain Vik to discuss LSO's school resource officer program and safety tips for the upcoming school year.

Deputy Piitz's background. History of SROs at LSO. Why we have SROs. Lancaster County school districts served by LSO. A typical day. "School to Prison Pipeline"? Back to school safety. Buses. Traffic. Abductions. Bullying. Sexting. Sextortion.

Andrew Wegley from the Lincoln Journal Star joined Sheriff Wagner, Chief Deputy Houchin & Captain Vik to discuss transparency between law enforcement & the media.

Sergeant Jason Mayo joined Sheriff Wagner, Chief Deputy Houchin, and Captain Vik to discuss LSO's award winning Criminal Interdiction Task Force. He also spoke to many of the narratives and misconceptions about asset forfeiture within law enforcement and at LSO specifically.

Jason's background. How the task force was formed. Task force partners. How criminal interdiction works. Policing for profit? How forfeited assets are used.

Captain John Vik takes his turn answering questions with Sheriff Wagner and Chief Deputy Houchin about one of LSO's newest divisions - Professional Standards.

Calvin Coolidge's view of law enforcement standards. John's background and career path. The history of Professional Standards at LSO. Changes over the years. A new division. Taking care of LSO's people. Personnel. Training. Communications. Internal Affairs. Mistakes of the head or mistakes of the heart. Rather go short than lower our standards.

Deputy Jarod Brabec joins the 902 Podcast to discuss how law enforcement agencies use armored vehicles like the Tactical Response Unit's (TRU) Bearcat.

Jarod's background. Progression from hunting guide to beer delivery guy to deputy. History of armored vehicles at LSO. Need for a new vehicle. Funding. Features. Usage stats. Impacts on officer/public safety.

Assistant Lincoln Police Chief Brian Jackson joins Sheriff Wagner, Chief Deputy Houchin, and Captain Vik to discuss the various ways both agencies seek to cooperate and avoid duplication of efforts for the citizens of Lincoln and Lancaster County.

AC Jackson's background. Changing times between LSO & LPD. Joint task forces. Specialized Units. Equipment. Facilities. Major Incidents.

LSO Admin Services Officer and "Budget Guru" Sara Sump is back on the 902 Podcast to discuss the upcoming fiscal year's budget with Sheriff Wagner, Chief Houchin, and Captain Vik.

LSO's budget approval process. The Sheriff's role vs. the County Board's role. Arbitrary, capricious, and unreasonable. Sheriff Wagner's budget philosophy. LSO's budget by the numbers. New personnel requests. Capital improvement projects. Sheriff Wagner's message to taxpayers.

Check out Lancaster County's Financial Transparency Portal HERE.