By TYLER ELLYSON
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – Braden Trosper isn’t the type of person who wants to sit behind a desk, doing the same thing over and over again each day.
The University of Nebraska at Kearney senior prefers to work in a more exciting environment – one that offers variety and a greater sense of purpose.
“Law enforcement is a career where you get to help people,” he said. “One day you might be running radar or conducting routine patrols, and the next day you’re responding to an emergency and assisting someone on the worst day of their life. You’re not going to get rich in law enforcement, but it’s rewarding in other ways, especially when someone comes in and says thank you for changing their life.”
A Grand Island native and Giltner High School graduate, Trosper has a family connection to the profession. His late grandfather Larry was a member of the Grand Island Police Department for nearly 40 years before retiring as a captain in 2004.
Trosper discovered his passion for criminal justice at UNK – the same school his parents and sisters attended.
“I actually came into college kind of undecided, so I picked some classes that interested me – criminal justice and history,” he explained. “I really enjoyed the professors in criminal justice, so that’s what I decided to go into. They all have a passion for what they’re doing, and they do a great job of getting students involved.”
While a class like criminal law might sound boring, Trosper gives the faculty credit for finding ways to make it engaging by incorporating case studies and interactive activities. He also appreciated the hands-on aspect of courses like criminal investigation, which allows students to see what the job is really like.
Those experiences became even more valuable in fall 2022, when Trosper was hired as a deputy with the Harlan County Sheriff’s Office. He graduated from the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center the following spring after completing a 15-week certification course that blends online learning, classroom instruction and hands-on skill development.
“The education that I received at UNK was very beneficial, because when you go to the academy, a lot of the things our department teaches are almost word for word what they talk about there, so you basically go in with a head start,” Trosper said. “You definitely aren’t as stressed, which is important, because the academy can be very stressful.”
Now living in Alma, Trosper focused on his full-time job for the first year before deciding to complete his bachelor’s degree through UNK. Because the criminal justice program is offered both online and on campus, he was able to easily transition to remote classes in spring 2024.
Theresa Wadkins, a professor and chair of the UNK Department of Criminal Justice, called the 25-year-old a great role model for other UNK students.
“Braden is clearly a motivated individual,” she said. “He’s found a way to balance starting a career as a deputy sheriff with completing his degree. Given that he took a job in another county, you would think that we would only work with him in the online environment, but he comes back to campus regularly. He also continues to be part of the criminal justice honor society, Alpha Phi Sigma, and participates when he can.”
Trosper admits it’s not always easy to find time for academics while working 40 to 60 hours a week, but there are some benefits. For instance, he completed the program’s mandatory internship simply by doing his job.
He’s also working on a research project with Wadkins that focuses on emergency protective custody and mental health services – scenarios he’s encountered in the field.
“One of Braden’s many strengths is that he connects what we talk about in class to practice,” Wadkins said. “We’ve had numerous conversations since he started working for the Harlan County Sheriff’s Office, and he discusses how the classroom work has helped prepare him for the various situations he encounters.”
Trosper will receive his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice next month, opening the door for advancement opportunities and increased earning potential down the line.
For now, though, he remains committed to his current job and making a positive impact in central Nebraska.
