It is both with a sad heart and a happy disposition that I anounce the retirement of Mr. Don Veys.
Don began in law enforcement before he really knew it. As it was told by him to me, he began working for the city while still in high school on the grounds crew at Rosenblatt Stadium and the Civic Auditorium. In 1971, Don applied and was accepted into a paid internship position with the Omaha Police Department through the University of Nebraska at Omaha Criminal Justice program. On January 1st, 1974, Don was hired as a full-time ID technician with the OPD Crime Lab. A short time later, Don was approached by the chief of police at the time and was asked to do some photography work. His knowledge of cameras and photography far superceded those in the crime lab at that time and he was given the task of outfitting the crime lab with equipment and provide training to all crime lab employees. Don advanced through the ranks at the crime lab, from technician to senior technician to shift supervisor/criminalist.
From 1976 to 1997, Don also worked as a professional photographer. Don says, "I moonlighted with a local portrait/wedding photography studio and did professional photography from my own business. Through this I achieved national certification as a "Certified Professional Photographer" with the Professional Photographers of America, and was awarded six blue-ribbon merit awards and had photographs displayed at the Kodak pavilion at the Epcot Center in Orlando Florida. The studio photography benefited from my photographic experience with OPD, and, OPD benefited from my personal training and work as a studio photographer." Working the night shift does have its benefits!!!
On December 15, 2005, Don retired from the Omaha Police Department and began a consulting position with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office on February 1st, 2006 (he must not have liked retirement that much!!) Although Don's position didn't require him to (nor pay him to) work full time, he was always there much longer, sometimes even logging more hours than full-timers. After providing his wealth of experience to the growing CSI Division at Douglas County, he was presented an opportunity to move on from forensics in to a successful family business in October of this year.
Don has been a member of the NE-IAI since its inception in 1984 and served as NE-IAI President in 1997 and 1998. He also served as Webmaster from 2006 until his retirement.
Don has always willingly shared the knowledge and information he has gathered in his 35 plus years of forensic experience with anyone that needed it. He served as my mentor for the last four years in latent fingerprints and I will definately miss his experience and expertise in that field alone. He has helped shape many of the OPD Crime Lab and DCSO CSI Division personnel into the great people that they are all today as well as the many people he's positively influenced throughout Nebraska.
Congratulations, Don, on an exemplary career. Thank you for your service to your community and to the State of Nebraska. You have touched us all in some way and you will be missed! God Bless!
