BEATRICE - The City of Beatrice has announced the resignation of the community's police chief.

City Administration issued a statement Tuesday saying that Chief John Hickman has resigned to pursue other opportunities. Mayor Bob Morgan accepted Hickman’s resignation this morning.

Hickman was hired in June of 2022 as a result of a nationwide search after the retirement of long-time Chief of Police, Bruce Lang.

Morgan said, “On behalf of the City of Beatrice, we thank Mr. Hickman for his service to our community and wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

The Mayor and City Council have named Lieutenant Jay Murphy as the Police Department Director. Murphy has served with the Beatrice Police Department for 33 years. He was hired as a Police Officer in 1990, was promoted to Sergeant in 1994, and to Lieutenant in 2018.

Murphy has supervised the Investigations Division, School Resource Officers, and Crime Scene Team. As the Police Department Director, he will have command of all aspects of the Police Department.

Hickman came to Beatrice from Glendive, Montana….where he had served as Chief of Police.

City Administrator Tobias Tempelmeyer did not say whether a search for a new chief of the department will start, saying that for the time being, the city will remain with a director of the police department.