The 902 Podcast

50 years of service - from dispatcher to Lancaster County's longest serving sheriff. Join us as Sheriff Terry Wagner reflects on his 50-year journey in law enforcement, sharing stories, challenges, and lessons learned along the way. Discover how leadership, technology, and community service have evolved over five decades. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and overview of Sheriff Wagner's career...

Longtime Lincoln anchorman Rod Fowler has been on the air with KLKN-TV Channel 8 News for 30 years! Starting when Channel 8 went on the air in 1996, he has covered nearly all of Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner's career as sheriff. In this episode, Sheriff Wagner, Chief Deputy Ben Houchin, Captain John Vik, and PIO Kelsey Cruz joined Rod to discuss how he's served Lancaster County and...

Sheriff Wagner provides a recap of his 2026 State of the Office Address. Each year, Sheriff Wagner addresses LSO staff to look back on the past year and discuss what lies ahead. In light of his announced retirement, this will be the Sheriff's final year in office and his final State of the Office address. This 902 Podcast episode brings that address directly to the public, with the Sheriff ref...

Ring in the new year safely with Episode 83 of The 902 Podcast, the official podcast of the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office! Join Sheriff Terry Wagner, Captain John Vik, Chief Deputy Ben Houchin, and Public Information Officer Kelsey Cruz for a timely discussion on staying safe as we welcome 2026. In this episode: The team breaks down the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over traffic safet...

Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude - but how can gratitude impact public safety? In this episode, Captain John Vik interviews Sarah Draper, a former West Point graduate, military police officer, and supervisory FBI agent, who now focuses on helping others lead well. They discuss Sarah's journey from military service to the FBI, her transition into wellness coaching, and the importance of gratitu...

Mark Langan is a retired Omaha Police sergeant and current member of the Nebraska Board of Parole. He and four other board members are responsible for making parole decisions for inmates currently confined within the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services. In this episode, Mark joined Capt. John Vik, Chief Deputy Ben Houchin, and Sheriff Terry Wagner to discuss the history of the Board, the...

"The evidence is trying to tell you a story..." Dr. Tim Huntington is a deputy with the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office. He also happens to be one of the fewer than twenty board-certified forensic entomologists in the U.S. and Canada. In this episode, Dep. Huntington sits down with John Vik, Ben Houchin, and Kelsey Cruz to break down the science behind insects and explore their rel...

Deputies at LSO bid for shifts every six months. In this episode, Captain John Vik walks through LSO's shift schedule structure and how the bid process works. He also talks about the recruiting process and career opportunities that are still available in 2025. Episode Music Credits: Vittoro by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)

Chief Michon Morrow just celebrated her second anniversary as chief of the Lincoln Police Department (LPD). In this episode, she joins Capt. John Vik, Chief Deputy Ben Houchin, and Sheriff Terry Wagner to discuss joint units, programs, and cooperation between LSO and LPD. Chief Morrow's background. Task forces. Joint units. Shared resources. LSO recruits at the LPD Academy. Staffing/Recruiting. Te...

With the 4th of July right around the corner, summer boating and camping seasons are in full swing. In this episode, Nebraska Game & Parks Sergeant Curt Prohaska joins the show to talk about their efforts to keep lakes and recreation areas a fun, enjoyable part of everyone's summer. Curt's background. Recreation areas/lakes in Lancaster County. Conservation officers. Inter-agency coope...

The Nebraska Attorney General's Office plays an important role in public safety across Nebraska. In this episode, Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers joins Sheriff Wagner, Chief Deputy Houchin, and Captain Vik to discuss his office, how they work with local law enforcement agencies, and how his staff works to protect Nebraskans every day. Links mentioned during the episode: Secure the Goodl...

E.J. O'Malley is a Health & Fitness Instructor at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. In this episode, E.J. joins Capt. John Vik, Chief Deputy Ben Houchin, and Sheriff Terry Wagner to discuss the importance of strong bodies and minds in public safety. Learn about the latest trends in human performance as E.J. dives into the research behind mobility, longevity, and durability. How does s...

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery Sheriff Wagner and Chief Deputy Houchin join Captain Vik and Kelsey Cruz, LSO's new Public Information Officer, to discuss LSO's Strategic Plan. What it is. Why we have one. How it's going in 2025. Read along here: https://www.lancaster.ne.gov/DocumentCenter/View/18643/Lancaster-County-Sheriffs-Office-Stat-Plan Episode...

From typewriters to AI transcription, law enforcement technology continues to evolve. LSO is no exception to that trend. In this episode, LSO Technology Manager Aktham Ali sits down with Sheriff Terry Wagner, Chief Deputy Ben Houchin, and Captain John Vik to discuss technology management at LSO. Aktham also provided insight into career opportunities within LSO's tech support unit. Learn more a...

Wildfires pose unique safety hazards to residents and first responders. In this episode, Hickman Fire Chief and LSO Deputy John Brady joined Sheriff Wagner, Chief Deputy Houchin, and Captain Vik to discuss grass and wildfires in Lancaster County. How they behave, prevention tips, and what you can do to keep your family and property safe.

As 2024 comes to a close, Captain John Vik recaps the year's top ten episodes. Listen in to find out which episodes made the cut! Happy New Year!! 🎆🎊 Episode Music Credits: Vittoro by Blue Dot Sessions New Crescente by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue)

It's Christmastime at LSO! Chief Houchin, Captain Vik, Sergeant Bolzer, and Sara Sump discuss holiday traditions in the office, LSO's UAS Team, and hiring updates about deputy and professional staff positions. Check out JoinLSO.com to learn about career opportunities in 2025! Merry Christmas!! Episode Music Credits: Vittoro by Blue Dot Sessions Rodney Skopes by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue...

Human trafficking is one of the most profitable illegal industries in the United States and around the world. In this episode, Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Christina Worster joins Captain John Vik, Chief Deputy Ben Houchin, and Sheriff Terry Wagner to discuss human trafficking - what it is, how it works, and what's being done to stop it. SA Worster also discusses her own career p...

Understanding the "why" behind any organization's mission is vital to its staff and the people it serves. In this episode, Capt. John Vik takes listeners on a deep dive into LSO's mission statement - what it is, how it was developed, and, most importantly, why it says what it says. He also provides an update on LSO's recruiting programs and why it's never been a better time to join LSO! Episode Mu...

Tyler Goodrich went missing on November 3, 2023, and there has been no sign of him since. In this episode, Inv. Jeremy Schwarz provides an update on the case, including investigative efforts over the last year since Tyler disappeared. Tips about Tyler's disappearance may be sent directly to the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office at (402) 441-6500/lso@lancaster.ne.gov or anonymously via CrimeStopper...

How do public safety agencies mitigate threats against individuals, schools, workplaces, and public officials? Dr. Mario Scalora is a forensic psychologist, professor, and expert in threat management. In this episode, he sits down with Sheriff Wagner, Chief Deputy Houchin, and Captain Vik to discuss threat management - what it is, how it's done, and the stakeholders involved. He also discusses the...

The Pink Patch Project started in 2013 as a local Breast Cancer Awareness project with a police department in Seal Beach, California. Since then, the project has expanded to hundreds of law enforcement, fire, and EMS agencies, raising over $1.5 million worldwide for breast cancer research and education. In this episode, Deputy Amanda Gress sits down with Sheriff Terry Wagner, Chief Deputy Ben Houc...

We did a thing! We've launched our first video episode of the 902 Podcast!! It came just in time to announce the opening of our first full-time Public Information Officer (PIO) position. In this episode, Captain John Vik, Chief Deputy Ben Houchin, and Sara Sump discuss the position, its duties, and what we hope to find in a successful candidate. This professional staff position is responsible...

Someone is killed or injured in a drunk driving crash every 79 seconds. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) works every day to see a world where there are no more victims of drunk/drugged driving. In this episode, MADD Nebraska Executive Director Sara Draper sat down with Sheriff Terry Wagner, Chief Deputy Ben Houchin, and Captain John Vik to discuss MADD's mission, services, and how they int...

The average life expectancy in the U.S. is about 78 years. For U.S. law enforcement officers, the average life expectancy is only 66. Maintaining physical, mental, and spiritual health is vital to keeping our people in the best condition possible to keep our community safe. In this episode, Deputy Amanda Gress joins Captain John Vik, Chief Deputy Ben Houchin, and Sheriff Terry Wagner to discuss we...