LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Senators have approved Gov. Pete Ricketts' choice to lead the Nebraska State Patrol despite concerns about his involvement in a gender discrimination lawsuit 10 years ago.
The Legislature voted 32-7 Tuesday to approve Bradley Rice of Elkhorn.
Rice was part of a panel that denied several promotions to a female sergeant between 2004 and 2005. The sergeant said the rejections were based on gender rather than her qualifications. During the lawsuit, another trooper testified that Rice said women were not qualified to be in law enforcement, an opinion Rice denied.
Opponents say Rice has not been forthcoming about the remarks, and the agency already fails to recruit and retain women and minorities.
Supporters say his comments were a one-time mistake.
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