• County Supervisor - 23-268/32-529
• County Attorney - 23-1201 et seq./32-522 (May be appointed when non-resident attorney if none elected or vacancy - see 23-1201.01)
• County Clerk - 23-1301 et seq./32-517
• Register of Deeds - 23-1501 et seq./32-518 (County clerks are ex officio register of deeds unless one is elected - see 23-1502)
• County Treasurer - 23-1601 et seq./32-521
• County Sheriff - 23-1701 et seq./32-520
• County Surveyor/Engineer - 23-1901 et seq.
• County Surveyor - 32-525
• County Assessor - 23-3201 et seq./32-519
• Public Defender - 23-3401 et seq./32-523
• Clerk of the District Court - 24-337.04/32-524
  

• Coroner - 23-1210
• County Comptroller - 23-1401 (counties with cities of the metropolitan class) - County Clerk is ex officio county comptroller
• County School Administrator - 23-3302; 23-3312 (Clerk maintains records)
• Election Commissioner - 32-211
• Highway Superintendent - 39-2502
• Jailer - 23-1703 (Sheriff unless county board of corrections)
• Weed Control Superintendents - 2-954
• Zoning Administrator - 23-114.04

• Know what has been filed against you;
• An attorney (a Public Defender may be provided at no cost);
• Face and cross-examine witnesses;
• Present evidence in your own defense;
• Testify if you wish; however, you do not have to testify;
• Be advised by the Judge as to what the Court can do with you; and
• Appeal the Court’s decision to the Nebraska Court of Appeals or Nebraska Supreme Court.

• Dress neatly and cleanly, as you would for an important meeting.
• Be 15 minutes early, so you are ready to attend the hearing on time.
• Speak loudly and clearly.
• Be honest and make eye contact when talking.
• Respond to Judge’s questions by saying, “Yes, Your Honor,” or “No, Your Honor.”

• Curse, swear or lie;
• Get angry or roll your eyes;
• Walk out of the courtroom (you could be held in contempt;
• Speak or act rudely;
• Take a cell phone into the courtroom;
• Slouch or chew gum; or
• Wear sagging pants, offensive T-shirts or gang-related items.

• ...fail to follow court orders (any law violation, including Court orders to obey your parents’ rules and curfew, and/or attend school).
• ...are a runaway youth (a history of running from home or if you run from your Court-ordered placement, such as foster or group home).
• …are a danger to yourself or others (violent, aggressive, gang-related behavior or use of alcohol or drugs).
• ...are being discharged unsatisfactorily from a placement facility. If you are not following rules of your Court-ordered placement and are discharged, you may be detained.
• ...an OJS evaluation is ordered to be done residentially.

• To stop the violence.
• To protect the victim from additional acts of violence committed by the Defendant.
• To protect the children or other family members from exposure to, or possible injury from, domestic violence.
• To provide restitution to the victims.
• To hold the offender accountable for their violent conduct.

• Locate non-custodial parents
• Establish paternity
• Establish and enforce medical support
• Enforce and collect support payments

• Nebraska Department of Administrative Services
• Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
• Nebraska Department of Revenue
• District and County Courts
• Nebraska Department of Labor
• Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles
• Federal Parent Locator Service
• Sheriffs
• Child Support agencies in all states
• Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement
• Credit Reporting Agencies
• Nebraska Payment Center

• All payments must be made to:
  Nebraska Child Support Payment Center
  P.O. Box 82600
  Lincoln, NE 68501-2600
• If you pay the other party directly, you may not receive credit for the payment.
• Child support payments are due on the first of each month and are delinquent the next day. Interest is charged on the delinquent amount after 30 days.
• Income withholding will be implemented in all cases involving child support whether there is delinquency or not (including unemployment withholding).
• You MUST pay child support regardless of custody or visitation issues.
• Health insurance MUST be provided for the child(ren) if ordered by the Court.
• If you have more than one order or judgment, your payments will be allocated between them. You cannot select which obligation to pay.
• Not paying child support can result in:
  • State and Federal Income Tax Intercepts
  • Drivers License Suspension
  • Suspend Professional Licenses
  • Suspend Eligibility For Hunting and Fishing Licenses
  • A Report to Credit Agencies
  • Denial of Your Passport
  • Lottery Prize Intercept
  • Liens/Seizure of Property
  • Seizure of Bank Accounts
  • Criminal Charges
  • Jail

• You can apply for child support services by contacting your local Health and Human Services office or County Attorney.
• If you or your child(ren) are receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) payments, the child support will be assigned to the State of Nebraska.
• DO NOT accept child support payments directly from the non-custodial parent. All payments must be made through the Nebraska Child Support Payment Center in order to be properly credited.
• If the non-custodial parent has more than one order or judgment, all payments received will be allocated proportionately between them.
• Your court order may contain language prohibiting you from removing the child(ren) from the State without the Court’s consent. It is your responsibility to know what the Court’s order says and to comply with it. Failing to do so may result in the suspension or termination of child support.
• Visitation cannot be withheld for non-payment of child support. Withholding visitation can:
  • Affect your child’s well-being
  • Result in a finding of contempt of court
  • Put you in jail

• Child support is due through the month that the child turns 19.
• Employers who fail to comply with incoming withholding notices or who punish or dismiss employees as a result of income withholding are subject to legal action.
• The County Attorney (or authorized attorney) represents the State and the best interests of the child.  No client/attorney relationship exists.
• Either party in an action for child support can request that the case be reviewed for possible modification every three years by contacting Health and Human Services, Child Support Enforcement, Review and Modification Unit at (800) 831-4573.
• Establishing paternity enables your child(ren) to have access to important family medical history as well and financial and emotional support.

• To work with the community and build a relationship of trust and understanding in order to work proactively to prevent crime.
• To use research and investigative techniques to ensure quality criminal prosecutions for the citizens of Buffalo County.
• To improve our understanding of the law and the community through seminars, training, and continuing education programs.
• To use technologically-advanced trial practices.
• To apply the law in an unbiased and consistent manner to ensure justice, equality, and safety for the community.

• Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office at (308) 236-8555;
• Kearney Police Department at (308) 237-2104;
• Ravenna Police Department at (308) 452-4145;
• Shelton Police Department at (308) 647-5110;
• Nebraska State Patrol at (308) 865-6000;
• or your local police department.

• City of Kearney
  • Emergency Management
  • Police Department
  • Kearney Volunteer Fire Department


• Buffalo County
  
  • Emergency Manager
  • Sheriff's Office


• Tox Town - An interactive guide to commonly encountered toxic substances
  
  
• Emergency Response Guide 
  
  
• Combating Ethanol Fires with Foam
  
  
• EMPG Training Video
  • MPG format - 75.5 MB
  • WMV format - 153 MB


• CSB Safety Videos

The Emergency Manager is an appointed position responsible for the development, implementation and maintenance of an emergency management system in Buffalo County to save lives and protect property. Such emergency management system shall include disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery capabilities. The incumbent is charged with making certain that the components of the emergency management system know the threats to the jurisdiction, planning for emergencies, being able to function effectively in an emergency, and conducting recovery operations following a disaster.

The position requires direct responsibility for the organization, administration, and operation of the Buffalo County Emergency Management System, subject to the direction and control of the Buffalo County Board of Supervisors. The position serves as the principal advisor to the Buffalo County Board of Supervisors in disaster/emergency matters. Supervision of day-to-day activities shall be directed by the Buffalo County Sheriff and Kearney Chief of Police.

The incumbent, in discharging duties, must work with elected and appointed officials of the local governments, of the state and of the Federal government, and private sector interests.

The incumbent is given broad and extensive authority to determine program priorities, requirements and procedures so as to implement and support the local, state and national programs and objectives. Completed work is reviewed in terms of net results and the achievement of broad objectives and conformance with general policies. Job effectiveness can be determined by the ability of the Buffalo County Emergency Manager to take the lead in developing local capabilities to mitigate disasters/emergencies and conduct coordinated operations in disasters/emergencies, making maximum use of all public and private resources available.

• Americans Elect
• Democratic
• Libertarian
• Republican
• Non-Partisan (not politically affiliated)

There are approximately 962 square miles in Buffalo County. Within this area there are 1500 miles of road: 101 miles are County oil or concrete roads. There are 352 bridges over 20 feet in the County. There are also 236 bridges that are 20 feet and under which are not considered bridges but are classified as culverts because of the constricted water flow.

The Highway Department has 40 full time employees and during the summer months we employ four to six more people. In addition the Highway Superintendent, there are: an assistant Highway Superintendent, two clerical, three foremen, 17 maintainer operators, five heavy equipment operators, three bridge crew laborers, one sign man, one welder, one mechanic, one mechanic assistant and four truck drivers.

We have an inventory of approximately $1,460,589.97 which includes office equipment and supplies, signs, sign posts, lumber, steel, tools, culverts, filters, oil, grease, radios and other supplies.

We also have a large inventory of machines and equipment valued at $6,272,647.63. This includes 19 maintainers, one crane, two backhoes, seven crawlers, three loaders, five scrapers, five dozers, 35 pickups and trucks and a considerable number of other pieces of equipment. The cost of fuel alone for operating this equipment in the fiscal year 2011-2012 which ended June 30, 2012 was $602,343.01. The cost of repairs was $228,027.04.

The Highway Department Budget for the present 2011-2012 fiscal year is $7,850,222.00.

We have an excellent communication system which includes 2-way radios which are used extensively. They save many miles of driving and enable people to communicate from one corner of the county to the other. They have saved many maintainer men from having to walk for help after having a flat tire, being stuck in a snowstorm or any other emergency type situation. Our foremen also have cellular phones.  We have 2-way radios in all the maintainers, office, loaders and in a majority of our other equipment.  The radios also give us communication with the Sheriff’s Department and the County Surveyor.  The telephone system gives us easier communication with the Sheriff’s Department, Surveyor, other Courthouse offices and also the City of Kearney offices by just dialing 4 digits.

Buffalo County is divided into 26 Townships. Each has its own budget and governing board. Two of the townships do the maintaining of their own roads. The rest contract with the County Highway Department for maintenance of their roads. We are, however, responsible for all roads that are mail routes and for the gravel on school bus routes. These roads are given priority over the rest of the roads as far as gravel, snow removal, maintaining, etc.

We have divided the townships into Zones 1 through 26. We bid gravel once a year. The bid period is from April 1 of one year to March 31 of the following year.

Buffalo County went to the GEO Base Addressing System and signs were installed in 1997. This system makes finding a resident faster in an emergency type situation.

Mission Statement: "The mission of the Buffalo County Sheriff's Department is to enhance the quality of life in our county by working cooperatively with the public and within the framework of the U.S. Constitution to enforce the law, preserve the peace, reduce fear and provide for a safe environment for all of our citizens."

Department Structure: The Buffalo County Sheriff's Office is organized into two divisions, Operations and Support Services, under the direction of the Sheriff who is elected for a four (4) year term. The Operations Division consists of Civil Process, Warrant Section, Investigative Section, and Patrol Section and is currently managed by a Captain. The Support Services Section consists of the Sheriff's
Staff Section, Community Services Section, Training Section, Communications Section, and Detention Center Section and is currently managed by the Chief Deputy.

LOCATION: The department offices are located at 2025 Avenue A in Kearney, Buffalo County, Nebraska.

Regular business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday.

A unique joint venture with the Buffalo County Sheriff's Office and the Kearney Police Department was formed in July 1993 when both agencies co-located to a remodeled building in downtown Kearney. By sharing resources, both agencies save taxpayers' money as well as establishing a good working relationship between the agencies and their employees.

The Sheriff's office oversees the dispatch duties and answers 911 calls for officers of both agencies.

The Police Department oversees the records and data processing functions for both agencies.

The Buffalo County Sheriff's Office responds calls that occur in the county (outside of Kearney city limits). The Kearney Police Department responds to calls that occur within the city limits.

Both agencies assist each other as needed as well as working with law enforcement officers from other local jurisdictions in Buffalo County, Public Safety at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, and the Nebraska State Patrol. 

For Emergencies: Dial 911