UNK junior Zach Arner serves the community while earning criminal justice degree
Arner works around 30 hours a week as a part-time community service officer with Kearney Police
When he’s in uniform, Zach Arner is a part-time community service officer with Kearney Police Department. (Photo by Erika Pritchard, UNK Communications)
By TYLER ELLYSON
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – On campus, Zach Arner is just like any other University of Nebraska at Kearney student – attending class, studying for exams, competing in intramurals and mapping out his future.
In uniform, the UNK junior steps into a very different role.
Arner works around 30 hours a week as a part-time community service officer with Kearney Police Department, balancing his criminal justice coursework with on-the-job responsibilities.
In many ways, the path feels natural for him.
“I’ve got cop in my blood,” Arner said.
His father, Travis, has spent more than 20 years in law enforcement, serving Lexington, Kearney and UNK before joining Minden Police Department. Growing up around the profession made an impression.
“He’s my inspiration,” Arner said of his father. “I wanted to follow in his footsteps, and it’s gone really well for me.”
A Kearney native who moved to nearby Axtell in sixth grade, Arner’s decision to attend UNK was a “very easy choice.” Although he looked at other schools, he wanted a university experience with a smaller, close-knit feel.
“UNK was the perfect fit,” Arner said. “It’s always kind of felt like home.”
That sense of familiarity extends beyond campus. Arner said he knows Kearney “like the back of my hand,” and he hopes to serve the community long-term. After graduation, he plans to pursue a full-time position with KPD and eventually become an investigator.
“It’s the perfect size,” he said. “This is the area where I grew up, and this is the area I want to serve.”
Learning in the classroom – and on the street
Arner began his role with KPD in late January and is currently training alongside full-time officers. By mid-March, he expects to be on his own.
Community service officers handle a range of responsibilities, including parking enforcement, animal control calls, private property accident reports and traffic control. For Arner, the position offers early exposure to the realities of policing while he completes his degree.
“It’s a really good way to get your foot in the door,” he said.
He works a flexible schedule during the week, plus every other weekend, with KPD structuring those hours around his academic commitments.
Arner appreciates that support, as well as the opportunity to create strong connections within the department.
“This is a chance to start my career early and be seen in the community,” he said. “It’s really important to me that I get to know the other officers and they get to know me. In law enforcement, building those relationships and building your reputation early is crucial.”
He credits UNK’s criminal justice program with preparing him for the position.
“I love it,” Arner said. “The instructors here are fantastic. They know what they’re talking about and they’re very interactive in class. I wouldn’t want to do anything else.”
A partnership that strengthens the community
Arner’s experience reflects a long-standing partnership between UNK and KPD – one that benefits both students and the department.
Kearney Police Chief Gabe Kowalek, a 2001 UNK graduate, said it’s common to start as a community service officer before becoming a sworn officer. The department recently reintroduced part-time CSO positions to better support students working toward their degrees.
“Starting out as a community service officer helps us evaluate problem-solving abilities, communication skills and how they treat others,” Kowalek said. “We have had multiple former UNK students start out as part-time CSOs while attending UNK and then after achieving their degree went on to have over 20-year careers.”
Additionally, KPD typically brings on three UNK interns each year – one in the spring, summer and fall. Kowalek estimates roughly 70% of the department’s officers are UNK graduates.
“We have an excellent university right in our backyard that prepares young men and women to have a career in law enforcement,” he said. “Most individuals who attend college here have pride in their work and understand what a great place Kearney is to live.”
Sgt. Logan Miller is a 2015 UNK graduate who now supervises the Special Services Unit, which includes CSOs, school resource officers, the K-9 unit and airport security. He also coordinates a variety of community engagement events.
Miller views the collaboration with UNK as an opportunity to shape future officers.
“I hope students gain meaningful, hands-on experience that gives them a realistic understanding of the policing profession and the many responsibilities that come with it,” he said. “Through their time with KPD, they have the opportunity to actively engage with the community, build communication skills and see firsthand the importance of professionalism and service.”
Just as important, he noted, is learning to work as part of a team.
“I want students to develop a team-first mentality – understanding that success in this field depends on supporting one another and working toward a common goal,” Miller said. “Their experience also highlights the value of strong partnerships, particularly the working relationship we have with the sheriff’s office, demonstrating how collaboration between agencies strengthens service to the community.”
As Arner’s supervisor, Miller sees those qualities already taking shape. He describes the UNK junior as someone who embodies the department’s core values of duty, honor and integrity and consistently represents the profession in a positive manner.
“Zach is professional in both appearance and conduct, and he approaches his work with an upbeat attitude that has a noticeable impact on those around him,” Miller said. “He demonstrates a genuine willingness to help others, whether that means assisting co-workers, supporting the community or stepping in wherever he is needed without hesitation.”
“His positive mindset, strong work ethic and team-first mentality make him a natural fit for this profession and a valuable member of the Kearney Police Department,” Miller added.
That commitment to service is exactly what Arner plans to carry forward in his career.
“I hope to change people’s lives for the better and be that positive face people can see in the community and know that they’re safe,” he said.
