Sheriff under fire for drinking in car on trip
By The Associated Press
NORTH PLATTE — The Lincoln County Sheriff is coming under fire for reportedly drinking beer with deputies in a car traveling along Interstate 80.
Confronted by a reporter with North Platte radio station KELN, Sheriff Jerome Kramer said he and four deputies drank beer in a car on their way to a March 26 seminar in Lincoln. Kramer says a fifth deputy who was driving the vehicle did not drink.
Kramer says the group was not in a county vehicle and that they were all off duty.
Kramer says he knew there was the potential to get caught, but said, “I’m on call 24 hours a day, was two counties away and decided to let my hair down.”
He called it a stupid decision and said, “I shouldn’t have done it.”
Kramer did not return messages left Friday by The Associated Press.

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Ceaner Than Clean wrote on May 9, 2008 9:31 pm:
hmmm wrote on May 9, 2008 9:40 pm:
mike wrote on May 9, 2008 10:11 pm:
Jason wrote on May 9, 2008 11:31 pm:
Joe wrote on May 10, 2008 12:20 am:
Nick wrote on May 10, 2008 12:59 am:
Yeah Right wrote on May 10, 2008 1:41 am:
Rachel wrote on May 10, 2008 2:10 am:
He sets the standard wrote on May 10, 2008 3:39 am:
In this article the sheriff reportedly said he and the deputies were off duty, but they were going to a seminar. The sheriff also reportedly said he was on call 24 hours a day. I think the fact they were going to the seminar indicates they were engaged in official business. They all should have known alcohol was off limits. "
Bill wrote on May 10, 2008 6:42 am:
DR wrote on May 10, 2008 6:42 am:
whatever wrote on May 10, 2008 6:56 am:
Lisa wrote on May 10, 2008 7:16 am:
open containers wrote on May 10, 2008 7:32 am:
CB wrote on May 10, 2008 7:32 am:
oh com eon wrote on May 10, 2008 7:44 am:
Aaron wrote on May 10, 2008 7:48 am:
Try telling that to a family member who has lost someone in an accident involving alcohol, or someone who has lost a leg due to a drunk drive. I am guessing you do this sometimes Jay. "
Eric wrote on May 10, 2008 9:12 am:
holli wrote on May 10, 2008 9:21 am:
Kidding me wrote on May 10, 2008 10:22 am:
And I hope LPD is reading these comments from all these people who think this is OK. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE start doing more random breathalyser stops on the streets of Lincoln! It's concerning that so many people think it's OK to drink and drive. "
Rick wrote on May 10, 2008 10:22 am:
Michael White wrote on May 10, 2008 10:24 am:
When cops are off duty they should just be a regular joe on the street and pay the piper like everyone else and it should'nt affect their job later for just being human, we would have a much higher quality of law enforcement person on the street if they were not held to non human, squeaky clean image standards. I don't like cops but would and could if they would act normal at times and I do feel sorry for them because of the expectations the public has put on them.
To me, this is no different than the guys going hunting or fishing and having a designated driver, leave them alone, they need to unwind sometimes too. "
robo cop wrote on May 10, 2008 10:27 am:
Jeffrey wrote on May 10, 2008 10:32 am:
"Open alcohol containers are NOT allowed in cars."
Laws must be enforced, and as we all are aware, officers due to the nature of their job are held to a higher standard. An individual who is charged with enforcing the law should not go around breaking those very laws once he is off duty, such action is hypocritical and has a detrimental effect on the greater society's attitude toward the law. An officer can not reasonably expect to arrest or fine a citizen offender and expect justice to be present when that officer commits the same violation freely. The principle that no one in society is above the law, is a pillar of western democracy and would be jeopardized if these officers are not punished.
These officers, should face stiff disciplinary action, not excluding the possibility of termination.
"
Smart Guy wrote on May 10, 2008 10:32 am:
Break wrote on May 10, 2008 10:39 am:
I don't mind and neither should anyone else...the DRIVER was NOT drinking!! "
idiots wrote on May 10, 2008 10:46 am:
Lets enforce the same standards for everyone. Fire them and send them home to thier families in shame like they deserve.
Besides, what type of example are they setting for our children, and the general public? "
Jae wrote on May 10, 2008 11:22 am:
insurance adjuster wrote on May 10, 2008 11:24 am:
Laws are laws, we must all abide by them, badge or not. "
Dan wrote on May 10, 2008 11:28 am:
I dont have a big problem wrote on May 10, 2008 12:48 pm:
GT wrote on May 10, 2008 4:21 pm:
Current Sheriff wrote on May 10, 2008 4:59 pm:
D wrote on May 11, 2008 12:33 am:
And how do we all KNOW that the driver was not drinking?? Because a law breaking sheriff said so? I am glad that this "snitch" came forward, hopefully something will be done about this so that I feel a little bit safer about driving down I-80. "
mark wrote on May 11, 2008 8:49 am:
HTA wrote on May 11, 2008 10:20 am:
"
kan wrote on May 11, 2008 11:58 am:
FRANK wrote on May 11, 2008 4:20 pm:
Let the man be. I am sure he will be more careful in the future not to drink with idiots who want to gossip about their boss. "