Governor Announces State Patrol Superintendent to Retire Post This Spring

(Lincoln, Neb.) December 8th Governor Dave Heineman announced that Col. Bryan Tuma, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol, is planning to retire from the post he has held for nearly five years. Col. Tuma is a 31-year veteran of the State Patrol. His retirement is effective March 1, 2011. Patrol spokeswoman Deb Collins said Tuma gave no special reason for deciding to end his patrol career. She said that "he's just choosing to retire." In the coming months the Governor will announce his selection to replace Col. Tuma as the head of the Nebraska State Patrol. Tuma has led the organization since 2005. “Col. Tuma has been an outstanding Superintendant of the Nebraska State Patrol,” Gov. Heineman said. “During his service, he has honorably led the State Patrol and is very much respected by law enforcement professional inside or outside of the State Patrol. I wish him well in all of his future endeavors.” A native of Columbus, Col. Tuma, 55, was commissioned on November 2, 1979. He has served in a variety of command assignments including director of training, Troop Area Commander in the Field Services Division at Troop C Headquarters in Grand Island, and was assigned to State Headquarters for several years where he served as the Major responsible for administrative services. Gov. Heineman appointed Col. Tuma Superintendent on June 4, 2005. Among his many responsibilities, Col. Tuma has been actively involved with homeland security, emergency management, transportation and criminal justice for the state. Gov. Heineman has appointed Col. Tuma to serve on several boards and commissions related to his areas of responsibilities. Col. Tuma said, “It has been a privilege to serve Nebraskans and represent the state over the course of the last 31 years. My career has been challenging, but extremely rewarding. I want to thank Gov. Heineman for this opportunity and for the confidence and trust he placed in me to lead the Nebraska State Patrol. I will miss working with the men and women of the State Patrol, as well as our other law enforcement and safety partners. I’ve witnessed many changes in law enforcement over the years and appreciate the opportunity to have addressed many of the major issues impacting the law enforcement and criminal justice community and the state of Nebraska.” Col. Tuma is a 1977 graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a major in Criminal Justice. He also is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy and a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Col. Tuma currently serves as the General Chair and a member of the Board of Officers for the Division of State and Provincial Police of the International Association of Chief of Police (IACP). Serving Nebraskans since 1937, Nebraska State Patrol officers perform a wide variety of duties. Those duties include working with communities to improve public safety; homeland security; enforcing traffic, criminal and drug laws; investigating crimes, as well as enforcing the laws and federal regulations pertaining to commercial motor carriers. The Nebraska State Patrol has six Troop Area Headquarters located in Lincoln, Omaha, Norfolk, Grand Island, North Platte and Scottsbluff. Across the state more than 700 sworn and civilian employees provide traffic, investigative, administrative and support services.