Sheriff Aaron Hanson was elected in 2022 as Douglas County’s 31st Sheriff. Since taking office, he has launched innovative initiatives – including the Community Action Team (CAT) and Special Operations Group (SOG) – to apprehend high-risk repeat offenders, combat violent crime, crack down on reckless street racing, address mental health and homelessness, and focus on the everyday issues that matter to Douglas County families.
A veteran law enforcement officer with 29 years of service, Sheriff Hanson spent 26 years with the Omaha Police Department in multiple leadership roles. He previously served as a K9 Unit Handler, Uniform Patrol Sergeant, Gang Unit Sergeant, and Supervisor of the OPD Fugitive Unit and Metro Omaha Fugitive Task Force.
Before being elected Sheriff, Hanson served as Executive Director of the Nebraska Center for Workforce Development, a nonprofit helping Omaha’s youth connect with careers in trades. He has dedicated countless hours to mentoring young men and families, caught in cycles of poverty and crime, to equip them with life skills and connect them with high-paying, skilled-labor jobs to break the cycle.
Hanson also served as President of the Omaha Police Officers Association, where he successfully reformed the pension system to end the practice of pension spiking and protect taxpayer resources.