Bryan Tuma replaces Don Arp Jr. as head of state crime commission

LINCOLN — Bryan Tuma, a past superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol, and a former director of the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, has been appointed executive director of the Nebraska Crime Commission.

Gov. Jim Pillen announced the appointment recently to replace Don Arp, who resigned as director to pursue jobs outside state government.

Arp had served as director of the Crime Commission since 2019. The agency enforces jail and police standards, administers grants to state law enforcement agencies and oversees crime victim support programs, among other duties.

Arp recently came under fire after a report by the Flatwater Free Press revealed mismanagement of the state’s Crime Victim’s Reparations program.

Arp also drew criticism, as reported by the Nebraska Examiner, in January 2022 for not immediately implementing pay raises that the Legislature had granted for state law enforcement center training officers.

Tuma, who will be paid $103,083 a year, was praised as a “five-star recruit” for the job by Pillen.

Tuma served 32 years with the State Patrol, including six years as the head of the agency. Most recently, he served as the safety and emergency preparedness coordinator for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.