Photo by File photo

Photo by File photo

The North Platte Bulletin broke the story Wednesday about Lincoln County Sheriff and two other deputies drinking beer in a car on the way to a training session in Lincoln March 26.

FREE Mobile Banking NOW AVAILABLE!

Lincoln County Sheriff Jerome Kramer, Sgt. Dan Newton and Deputy Merit Newman all drank a beer while driving down Interstate-80, Kramer said. Chief Deputy Dean Sparks did not drink, he said he was driving the car.

Read the entire story in the print edition of the North Platte Bulletin, available at convenience stores throughout Lincoln County or at our office at 1300 E. Fourth Street in North Platte.

Members of the Fraternal Order of Police No. 26, the deputy’s union, are upset about the incident and speak out in the Bulletin’s print edition story.

Union members are also upset about $35 worth of alcohol charged on a county credit card when Kramer and Sparks traveled to Lincoln to support the three deputies who were supplying court security for the Alisha Ochoa double murder trial in Lancaster County Court.

The Lincoln County Commissioners discovered the booze on the credit card ticket after it was submitted for claims and Kramer and Sparks said they then paid for the liquor out of their own pockets.

Some FOP members say the actions of LCSO administrators violate state laws and LCSO policies. They said they were disappointed and now wonder how administrators will be able to disipline others who violate LCSO policies.

Kramer says the dust up is politically motivated because he’s providing leadership, something that’s sorely needed in the Sheriff’s office.

On Thursday, Kramer appeared on KNOP-TV and apologized for drinking on the trip to Lincoln.

“It was a mistake on my part,” Kramer said.

Kramer also contradicted the statement he gave the Bulletin Tuesday, that it was LCSO Deputy Merit Newman’s idea to by the beer that day.

“It was my idea to get the beer,” Kramer said. “I shared it with the other passengers.”

The North Platte Bulletin exposes details of all the arguments and reactions from both sides of this issue in the print edition. Pick up your copy today.