BEATRICE - After four months, a southern Gage County community has found a new leader for local law enforcement.

Bobby Martinez was sworn in as the new Wymore Police Chief, by City Attorney Andy Carothers at a city council meeting, Wednesday. Martinez comes to Wymore from the Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office, in Sidney. He is a retired U.S. Navy Veteran. 

Last March 1st, Wymore ceased police operations because the department lacked an adequate number of full-time law enforcement officers.  Mark Meints, a Safety and Security Coordinator at the Beatrice Campus of Southeast Community College, has been serving as Interim Police Chief in Wymore for the past several months.  He is also the town's Fire Chief.

Gage County Sheriff's deputies have been aiding the city with answering calls and patrol duties.   Minor issues like junked vehicles and dilapidated dwellings....along with other nuisance cases were reported to the Wymore City Office.

New Chief Bobby Martinez (Photo: Tim Hanson)
New Chief Bobby Martinez (Photo: Tim Hanson)  

Police and sheriffs departments across Nebraska are feeling the pressure of finding enough officers, often competing with other departments for already certified officers to fill vacancies.