Emerson Nebraska’s police chief celebrating 40 years of service

EMERSON, Neb. (KTIV) - A small Northeast Nebraska police chief is marking four decades on the force.

Emerson Police Chief Chuck Chinn celebrated serving 40 years with the department. Chinn joined the department in 1984 right out of the academy, and six years later, he was named its chief.

For about three-quarters of his time in Emerson, he’s been the only officer in the town, Chinn tells KTIV that over the years he received offers to move on to other departments but turned them down to remain in Emerson.

“Several sheriffs have come to me and asked me, ‘Hey, would you come work for my department?’” said Chinn. “And I just kind of, I don’t know if I’m ready for that change, you know, going into a bigger department or what’s going to happen to my community if I leave?”

Chinn, who grew up in Wayne and hadn’t set foot in Emerson until he started working there in 1984, has since become a part of the small Northeast Nebraska town.

“It’s a real big connection. I mean, you can walk down the street and you have people come up to you and call you by name and you’re part of the community,” said Chinn. “That’s what we look forward to doing and being a part of the community and making sure that everybody here is safe.”

Chief Chinn said that while he hasn’t had an official celebration, there is one planned for him in the near future.