• Lori Pilger – Apr 10, 2025 – Lincoln Journal Star

The city and Lincoln Police Department confirmed late Thursday that Capt. Jake Dilsaver, the head of the Special Victims Unit, has been removed from command.

“It is an internal personnel matter, and we cannot comment further,” City Chief of Communications Chris Triebsch and LPD Spokesperson Erika Thomas both said in a statement sent to the Journal Star. 

Dilsaver has worked for the department 17 years. It wasn’t immediately clear what prompted the move. 

Allegations first surfaced publicly two years ago against Dilsaver in a lawsuit filed by a former Lincoln police officer alleging a toxic work environment for female officers at the department. 

Angela Sands, LPD’s onetime public information officer and later sergeant, said she had reported to then-captain and now Police Chief Michon Morrow and another female captain that Dilsaver had sent unsolicited pictures to another female officer, while on duty. 

Former LPD Officer Sarah Williams recently acknowledged it was her. But the lawsuit alleges there were others.

“Despite (former) Chief (Teresa) Ewins’ knowledge that Captain Dilsaver had previously been reported for sending unwanted sexual messages to women, she promoted him to oversee the newly formed Sex Crime Unit at LPD,” Sands’ attorney, Kelly Brandon, wrote in a complaint against the city over Sands’ firing.

The Special Victims Unit at LPD investigates reports of serious child abuse, sexual assaults, aggravated domestic violence and human trafficking. 

Brandon alleges Sands was fired in retaliation for raising concerns about misconduct within the department, which included sexual harassment and assaults by male employees and a marginalization of female officers who reported it.

Sands is one of seven current and former Lincoln Police officers who have come forward publicly about what they say is systemic harassment, discrimination and retaliation that pervades the city’s public safety agencies and has for years been enabled by city leadership.

Laura Stokey, Erin Spilker, Sara Khalil, Luke Bonkiewicz, Melissa Ripley and Williams also have filed lawsuits. They are all pending except the one filed by Williams, which the city agreed to settle by giving $65,000 to Williams, who left to work at the Omaha Police Department. Ripley is the only whistleblower still employed by the department.

Last year, the city paid $900,000 to settle lawsuits filed by two female firefighters who made similar allegations of discrimination at Lincoln Fire and Rescue. They paid Amanda Benson $650,000 and Jessie Lundvall $250,000.

Text messages detail sexual abuse allegations within Lincoln Police Department

By Bayley Bischof – Published: Apr. 11, 2025 at 5:15 PM CDT – 1011now.com

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Newly released text messages between then-Capt. Michon Morrow and a former officer suing the Lincoln Police Department for alleged sexual harassment have come to light.

On Thursday, the Lincoln Police Department and city of Lincoln announced Capt. Jake Dilsaver had been placed on administrative leave and is no longer leading the Special Victims Unit, which investigates sex crimes.

City officials declined to comment on the reason for the change, but it comes after a Nebraska Public Media report alleged that Capt. Jake Dilsaver sent multiple sexually inappropriate messages to a coworker.

That coworker, Sarah Williams, previously filed a lawsuit against the city, which was later settled. Her lawsuit, which cited harassment and discrimination, did not specifically name Dilsaver.

However, a separate lawsuit filed by former officer Angela Sands does reference Dilsaver. In her complaint, Sands claims that Dilsaver sent Williams unsolicited photos of his genitals while on duty and in uniform.

Sands also alleges the photos were reported to now-Police Chief Michon Morrow when she was a captain. 10/11 obtained text messages between Morrow and Sands around October of 2020 when Dilsaver’s alleged misconduct was brought up.

In the texts, Sands told Morrow that then-Chief Bliemeister would be shocked to learn a captain sent a “sext” to a former officer while they were working together. Morrow said, “it’s not any of my business and I probably don’t want to know but I’m going to ask anyway… Which Capt.?”

Sands replied, “Dilsaver.” In a later response, Morrow said she was, “speechless about Jake.”

The text messages do not go into detail about the photos Dilsaver sent. They also don’t include whether Morrow or anyone with LPD took any action after the conversation.

A spokesperson from the city said they couldn’t provide any comment on the texts or pending litigation.

Morrow has been chief since February 2024 and was appointed interim chief in July 2023. Dilsaver was named head of the Special Victims Unit before she started in that role.

10/11 NOW has reached out to both Williams and Sands for comment. Sands said she is unable to speak on the record. A response from her attorney, who is representing her in the ongoing lawsuit against the city, is still pending.

READ MORE: Lincoln has paid millions – far more than Omaha – to settle employee lawsuits. More are looming.

During a Thursday press conference where Chief Morrow presented the department’s 2024 Annual Report, she was asked about any cultural or policy changes in response to harassment allegations within the department.

Morrow emphasized the importance of giving everyone in the department a voice, saying, “That’s just paramount that we do that within a culture to make sure everyone feels seen, heard, valued.”

She said the department is implementing feedback-driven changes that have been well received, including the creation of more specialized positions and opportunities for advancement.

“We are taking that feedback and we are creating changes that they are asking for,” Morrow said.

To stay connected with staff, Morrow said they have town-hall style meetings, she visits lineups and engages in conversations whenever possible.

“I will engage anyone at any point in a conversation, even if it’s grabbed in the hallway,” she said. “I’m there. I’m there to listen, and quite frequently I’m there to learn.”

Thursday’s report showed an image of Capt. Jake Dilsaver alongside information with the Special Victims Unit.