NE Supreme Court Rules State Correct to Reject Deputy Sheriff; Lied on Application

A man attempting to become a sheriff’s deputy in Seward County after being fired from the Georgia State Patrol was told by the Nebraska Supreme Court he can’t get the job after lying on his application

When out-of-state law enforcement officers hope to take a new job in Nebraska, the Law Enforcement Training Center (NLETC) reviews whether they meet the qualifications.

Brent Swicord worked for the Georgia State Patrol before applying for a new job with the Seward County Sheriff’s Department.

Nebraska rejected Swicord’s application after they found he lied on the paperwork about whether he had been charged with any crimes or had been fired by any previous agency. They learned Swicord faced charges of battery after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend. The charges were dropped. He was fired from the Georgia Patrol after providing a gun to a former felon and misleading his boss about working on a private security side job.

In its opinion Friday, the Supreme Court unanimously rejected Swicord’s argument he simply made a mistake on the forms.

Since last year Swicord continued to work for the Seward County Sheriff as a paid civilian advisor to a drug enforcement program. Sheriff Mike Vance previously stated he would relieve Swicord of his duties if he lost his appeal. In an email to NET News Vance wrote he “respect the court's decision however disheartening.”

He added that Swicord plans to apply to Nebraska’s training academy since the NLETC rejected his request to have his Georgia training accepted for certification as a Seward County deputy. “We hope for a different outcome,” wrote Vance, because Swicord’s attorney will be bringing forward evidence that was not able to be presented in this appeal.”