Former Lancaster County sergeant charged with two misdemeanors after firing

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A former Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office sergeant was charged Tuesday with two misdemeanors.

Sgt. Ryan Schmuecker is facing two counts of neglecting to serve a misdemeanor warrant, court documents say.

On March 14, Sheriff Terry Wagner said Schmuecker failed to arrest two people wanted for not paying fines.

Instead, Schmuecker told them to pay their fines and let them go, according to Wagner.

Chief Deputy Ben Houchin said the sheriff’s office asked the Lincoln Police Department to investigate.

The agency then placed Schmuecker on a 10-day suspension, which he tried appealing.  Ultimately, the sheriff’s office fired him on May 10.

“As soon as you go to the academy, it is taught extremely hard that you make an arrest when an individual has an arrest warrant,” Houchin said.

Houchin said this type of misconduct is not a problem within the agency.

“If you’re convicted of it, you lose your certificate to be a law enforcement officer,” he said.

Schmuecker is set to appear in court on May 31 for an arraignment.