Douglas County Board delays vote on sheriff's federal policing-technology grant

OMAHA - The Douglas County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 27 put off for a week its decision on a federal policing-technology grant for the Sheriff's Office, after a commissioner asked what one of the grant's conditions would require of the county, according to the meeting's official video.

The item, a U.S. Office of Justice Programs Community Oriented Policing Technology grant awarded to the Sheriff's Office for fiscal year 2026, was pulled from the consent agenda to be discussed on its own. District 3 Commissioner Chris Rodgers read from the award letter's second condition, which requires local government recipients to comply with 8 U.S.C. 1373 and not restrict officials from sharing information about citizenship or immigration status with the Department of Homeland Security.

"I'm trying to get an understanding of what that commits us to when we accept this money," Rodgers said.

A Sheriff's Office representative told the board he did not have an answer that day and offered to research the question. The board chair then asked for unanimous consent to table the item to the following week's meeting.

Source: Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Oct. 27, 2026, official video (item at 37:40); meeting transcript, 36:40–43:30, via Citizen Portal, which first flagged this item. Commissioner's name and district: Douglas County Election Commission, current elected officials.