KEARNEY – Jim Davis of Grand Island has been hired as the new director of police and parking services at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. He begins his duties June 22.
Davis oversees a staff of 10 police officers, as well as UNK community service officers and parking services staff. He replaces Michelle Hamaker, who has been promoted to the new position of director of emergency planning and management.
A Ravenna native, Davis has worked in law enforcement for more than 30 years, including positions with sheriff’s departments in Harlan County (1989-94), Buffalo County (1994-96) and Polk County (2001-05).
Since 2012 he has worked for both the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center in Grand Island and South Dakota Law Enforcement Training Center, instructing recruits in areas such as search and seizure, suspect control, traffic stops, tactical communications, investigations, interviews and interrogation.
From 2005-12, he worked as lead criminal investigator for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Police Department, where he was the training officer for a staff of 22 police officers. Davis is certified to instruct verbal judo, active shooter tactics, emergency vehicle operations and law enforcement supervision.
He also works for the Sturgis Police Department during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
At UNK, Davis is responsible for the overall management and supervision of the Police and Parking Services Department, including operation of UNK’s crime prevention programs and Behavioral Threat Assessment Team.
Other duties include developing security and parking plans for special events and working closely with numerous agencies, including the Kearney Police Department, Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, Buffalo County Emergency Management, and other local, regional, state and federal agencies.
In addition, Davis advises university departments on police, threat assessment, crime prevention and parking measures.
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Writer: Todd Gottula, Director of Communications, 308.865.8454, gottulatm@unk.edu
