Mayor Wants Ruiz As Chief

The Kimball City Council planned to meet in special session on Wednesday evening, May 24, to consider Mayor John Morrioson’s appointment of Jose Ruiz as police chief.

Ruiz would follow former Chief Andy Bremer and Interim Chief Dwain Murdoch on the job.

In other police business, the City Council on May 16 considered the approval of the mayor’s appointment of Michael Youngquist, Damien S. Martinez and Greg Taylor as police officers.

Councilwoman Christy Warner asked if all three officers were interviewed and if all the proper procedures were followed. She was assured that LB51 had been followed.

Michael Youngquist, a certified officer, was approved, and Damien Martinez was hired to be sent to the academy in September, but Greg Taylor, an accredited officer, was not approved.

A motion was made by Councilman Don Muench to approve Taylor. Muench said that the interview panel approved him, and he was going along with that information. Taylor currently works for the Kimball County Sheriff’s Office, but the motion died for lack of a second.

Councilman Creg Pike said he had “grave reservations about Greg. We could do better. I can’t see Greg coming back.”

On Tuesday, May 16, with the approval of Youngquist, the Kimball Police Department had two officers. Interim Police Chief Dwain Murdoch said that they split up the week.