Omaha Police Chief Does Not Want Affidavit Unsealed of DNA Sweep of Black Men

The city of Omaha has decided to appeal a judge's decision to unseal documents related to police DNA testing. A judge said last month that the order Omaha police used to collect DNA samples in a rape investigation should be unsealed. Douglas County Judge Jeffrey Marcuzzo said the affidavits that led to the order should be be made public with sensitive items redacted. One affidavit was for a general warrant that ordered OPPD to release the names of black employees who fit a certain profile and the other specifically ordered the man in our story to give saliva samples for DNA testing. Omaha police have been gathering DNA from a few black men in Omaha after four women were raped over the past two years. Police served a search warrant on the Omaha Public Power District last month, identifying 84 male employees. They narrowed the list to 32 men who matched the rough description for whom they were looking. [more ]