Sheriff Under Fire for Drinking in Car on Trip

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Sheriff Under Fire for Drinking in Car on Trip

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North Platte, Neb.
Posted: 3:58 PM May 9, 2008
Last Updated: 3:58 PM May 9, 2008
Reporter: Associated Press
Email Address: desk@kolnkgin.com

19 comments

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The Lincoln County Sheriff is coming under fire for reportedly drinking beer with deputies in a car traveling along Interstate 80.

Confronted by a reporter, Sheriff Jerome Kramer said he and four deputies drank beer in a car on their way to a March 26 seminar in Lincoln. Kramer said a fifth deputy who was driving the vehicle did not drink.

Kramer said the group was not in a county vehicle and that they were all off duty.

Kramer said he knew there was the potential to get caught, but said, "I'm on call 24 hours a day, was two counties away and decided to let my hair down."

He called it a stupid decision and said, "I shouldn't have done it."

Kramer did not return messages left Friday.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Barney Location: Franklin on May 13, 2008 at 10:03 PM
It has been my close observation that law enforcement personnel do behave like the society they serve and protect. They do drink and drive and party hard but law enforcement people are keenly aware of their personel limitations and rarely exceed the bounds. There is immunity among their occupational group unless a nosey reporter makes it public.

Posted by: chris Location: lincoln on May 12, 2008 at 09:07 AM
I dont see anything wrong with what the sheriff did, except... if he were to pull over a car with a bunch of guys drinking, there would have been open container citations. Driver not drinking?... Then whats the problem? Only that it smacks of hipocracy.

Posted by: listen Location: dewitt on May 12, 2008 at 07:13 AM
THEY WERE NOT COUGH BY OFFICERS! HOW CAN THEY BE CHARGED! PEOPLE NEED TO READ AND PAY ATTENTION!

Posted by: flgrownNE Location: Nebraska on May 11, 2008 at 09:43 PM
Most of you know nothing about law enforcement. Have you heard "walk a mile in my shoes"? Don you must be a law hater due to a sketchy past. They can not be removed from their jobs or fined if they did not get caught. Besides it is an infraction that holds a total fine of $94. The Sheriff has to be recalled. He(they) can only be de-certified from law enforcement for a Felony. He(they)should be punished if caught but he(they)weren't. Mark and "same old story" you know nothing about Troopers so keep you mouths shut. The stupid/immoral Troopers in the past have been punished. Most of the city and county cops are nominal at best anyway. They mostly do what their board members tell them to do. Don't forget out in Lincoln County the cops like to drive drunk and kill eachother. Remember the North Platte police officer that drove drunk, wrecked and killed two other cops...or was it three? That was kept pretty quiet. Just remember if you cast the first stone it may get thrown back at you .

Posted by: nobody on May 11, 2008 at 11:51 AM
they should get open container. peroid. i would have got the ticket if i was pulled over. if they're just humans and regular citizens, they deserve a ticket for being caught.

Posted by: Andrea on May 10, 2008 at 08:01 PM
We are all human and deserve some fun every now and then. Who cares, we all need to let our hair down. We only live once might as well enjoy life while you can!

Posted by: Dan Location: Seward county on May 10, 2008 at 01:43 PM
These are the same people who wouldn't hesitate to write up us ordinary people. Don't these people recieve any IQ or personality testing before they're hired, or do they just have to have a warm body and a heart beat? It seems that too many of them have the "little man syndrome". Inspite of what they think, they are not God and are not above the law anymore than the rest of us. Cops these days practice zero tolerance when dealing with the public, and that's just what these jokers deserve! John Bruning, here's your chance to get your name and picture in the paper again.

Posted by: LHATS Location: Lincoln on May 10, 2008 at 09:49 AM
OH MY GOD! What next? This is a man of legal drinking age and as a law enforcement officer, is reliable and trustworthy. If anyone thinks that his having some beer in a car he is was driving, was off duty and was far outside the area of his jurisdiction, is the definition of a crime then they should have their heads examined. I would like to see what his distractoes would list as his improprieties and how each of them threaten the safety of the public. I would then like to know, if any of these distractors have ever driven a vehicle, including boats, after having even one alcoholic drink. I sat on a jury for an alleged D. U. I. case and the Nebraska law was defined for us as even one drink was "Driving Under The Influence", so let those who have never sinned, cast the 1st stones. It would be my guess that not many stones would be thrown under those parameters. People, keep on being more and more "Politically Correct" then notice fewer job applications in these areas.

Posted by: mark Location: south lincoln on May 10, 2008 at 08:21 AM
Chill out Don. As a former officer it became apparrent to me that you don't write everybody. Sometimes the world is they way it is and you aren't going to change it. Also not long ago that was leagal. It would still be leagal if people wouldn't have abused it. If I ever meet the man I will shake his hand and tell him thanks for what he does 24 7 and don't let the people that don't understand reality and the way the world works get to you. Don, it is evident that you make a reasonable living when many county law enforcement officers don't. Or you are a Trooper and only have to worry about traffic for a certain shift a day.

Posted by: JR Location: Lincoln on May 10, 2008 at 07:33 AM
First of all to Anonymous: He may be a Sheriff, but he's a person also??? Whats that all about? That makes it right for them but not for anyone else? Pull your head out, the laws the law, see what would have happened if it were them pulling you or I over for the same thing. Every single one should be fired & was there any mention of tickets?????, I dont think so. This had better not end with just a story in the paper.

Posted by: Dan Location: Lincoln on May 10, 2008 at 03:10 AM
Wow, this is pretty ridiculous. Who cares...no one was hurt, they were off duty, and not in a county vehicle. Yeah open container blah blah blah. Big deal, I think there are some more important issues to worry about than an officer having a drink.

Posted by: bottomfeeder Location: Ne-not so good life on May 9, 2008 at 11:23 PM
Law takes care of thier own if possible, its a small family in this state everybody networks; thier job is information. So Joe Public maybe should remember this when it comes to election and remember the history of the person and add that to the smoke and mirrors they preach when hooking you for a vote. Maybe the State Attorneys Office will punish him (not) maybe the county commissioners can voice thier thoughts (they seem to think they are in control of the Sheriff's Office most of the time)or maybe the public can sign to start a recall but at 3.64 a gallon people are working overtime and to involved in surviving in thier world. So what happens! Nothing happens, its an office with a free Attorney to protect them and a budget that comes from the people that they enforce the laws on, this is a waste of time even reporting on and even a bigger waste of my time to voice a opinion on the fact. They are protected by the Blue Line- Read a book Ttitled "Armed and Dangerous" by Gina Gallo.

Posted by: joe Location: Lincoln on May 9, 2008 at 10:11 PM
I didn't read where they were pulled over or caught in the act. Even a normal person has to be caught in the act to get a ticket. Don't think anything's being swept under the rug. They just didn't get caught.

Posted by: Andy Location: Nebraska on May 9, 2008 at 09:42 PM
We must remember that our law enforcement personell are human too. We all need a beer or two once in a while!!! Especially with the winners that law enforcement people deal with these days.

Posted by: anonymous Location: nebraska on May 9, 2008 at 08:32 PM
I understand he is a law official, but come on, he is only human. At least they had a sober driver, give him that. I can think of worse things to have happen than this. We have ALL done something stupid at some point in our life and this is NO different. I'm sure he will have to pay a price for this mistake, last time I checked it was up to a judge to determine the "payment" for the crime, so let's let the judge do their job now and move on.

Posted by: plm on May 9, 2008 at 07:38 PM
He was off duty, In a private vehicle, and for goodness sakes he wasn't even driving! For goodness sake! Find someone who is breaking the law to pick on.

Posted by: Tim V. on May 9, 2008 at 06:15 PM
They should at the LEAST be fined for an open container in a vehicle.Great role models for the public.

Posted by: same old story on May 9, 2008 at 06:01 PM
you see it happen time after time....police officers and state patrol officers are above the same laws that they inforce....i wonder how many tickets these 4 deputies wrote to people who had "open alcohol containers" ????? WHAT A JOKE

Posted by: Jason Location: Lincoln on May 9, 2008 at 05:31 PM
I really hope that he feels good the next time he's writing a ticket for open container. What a wonderful role model for my son. We can't do it but if your a cop you can do anything.

Posted by: Don on May 9, 2008 at 04:14 PM
If I was caught drinking in a vehicle the driver gets a ticket for open container and so do I. This driver should have gotten 4 counts of open container and everybody else 1 count of open container. With him being the sheriff of a county and knowing the law, he should be removed from office and fined for allowing it to happen. Who bought the beer that they were drinking should also be fined higher than the others, but all should face the judge on charges of open containers. Goes to show if you are a sheriff it tends to get swept under the rug and nothing happens. It's not fair the sheriff who knows the law gets of and I get fined for doing the same thing.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 9, 2008 at 04:11 PM
He may be a Sheriff, but he's a person also