OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - FBI Omaha agents served federal search warrants Tuesday morning at the homes of an Omaha city councilman and two city police officers.
The FBI served warrants Councilman Vinny Palermo’s south Omaha home as well as the homes of Officers Johnny Palermo, who is not related to the councilman, and Daniel Torres.
Because it’s an ongoing investigation, the FBI isn’t saying why they were there.
6 News also learned federal agents also served search warrants Tuesday at the offices of Police Athletics for Community Engagement, a nonprofit known as PACE that’s dedicated to helping at-risk children learn about the importance of education through sports like soccer, baseball, and flag football.
The two Omaha Police officers have been placed on paid administrative leave as a result of the investigation, OPD Lt. Neal Bonacci said in an email to 6 News. They will also be subject to an internal investigation.
Both officers have strong connections to the Omaha Latino Peace Officers Association and PACE. Johnny Palermo is the current president of the Omaha LPOA and Torres is the past president, according to its website. The organization also started PACE in 2005.
OPD Chief Todd Schmaderer expressed concern at the developments and thanked federal authorities for their work on the case.
Omaha LPOA’s vice president Greg Gonzalez, retired Omaha Police Deputy Chief, says the bookkeeper turned financial records over to the Internal Revenue Service.
While investigators are staying silent on the reasons for the search warrants, 6 News knows that in order to get one, agents would have had to convince a judge they suspect some sort of criminal activity and that a search would bring invaluable evidence for the case.
A few OPD detectives have been assisting the FBI with its investigation, Bonacci said.
“The confidentiality of the federal investigation was of paramount importance and only a few OPD commanders are aware of said investigation,” he said in the email.
6 News has not yet received a response or acknowledgment of a recent text sent to Councilman Palermo asking for comment.
Mayor Jean Stothert issued a statement saying she was “shocked and beyond disappointment” at the developments involving Palermo, the officers, and the PACE organization. Noting that PACE is not officially affiliated with the city, the mayor said the city was suspending all its financial support for the organization.
This is a developing story. Stay with 6 News for updates.
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The FBI served warrants Councilman Vinny Palermo’s south Omaha home as well as the homes of Officers Johnny Palermo, who is not related to the councilman, and Daniel Torres.
Because it’s an ongoing investigation, the FBI isn’t saying why they were there.
6 News also learned federal agents also served search warrants Tuesday at the offices of Police Athletics for Community Engagement, a nonprofit known as PACE that’s dedicated to helping at-risk children learn about the importance of education through sports like soccer, baseball, and flag football.
The two Omaha Police officers have been placed on paid administrative leave as a result of the investigation, OPD Lt. Neal Bonacci said in an email to 6 News. They will also be subject to an internal investigation.
Both officers have strong connections to the Omaha Latino Peace Officers Association and PACE. Johnny Palermo is the current president of the Omaha LPOA and Torres is the past president, according to its website. The organization also started PACE in 2005.
OPD Chief Todd Schmaderer expressed concern at the developments and thanked federal authorities for their work on the case.
Monday night, 6 News heard from the organization’s tax attorney, Howard Kaplan, who said the Latino Peace Officers Association and PACE are “fully cooperating with a federal investigation.”
Omaha LPOA’s vice president Greg Gonzalez, retired Omaha Police Deputy Chief, says the bookkeeper turned financial records over to the Internal Revenue Service.
While investigators are staying silent on the reasons for the search warrants, 6 News knows that in order to get one, agents would have had to convince a judge they suspect some sort of criminal activity and that a search would bring invaluable evidence for the case.
A few OPD detectives have been assisting the FBI with its investigation, Bonacci said.
“The confidentiality of the federal investigation was of paramount importance and only a few OPD commanders are aware of said investigation,” he said in the email.
6 News has not yet received a response or acknowledgment of a recent text sent to Councilman Palermo asking for comment.
Mayor Jean Stothert issued a statement saying she was “shocked and beyond disappointment” at the developments involving Palermo, the officers, and the PACE organization. Noting that PACE is not officially affiliated with the city, the mayor said the city was suspending all its financial support for the organization.
This is a developing story. Stay with 6 News for updates.
FBI serves warrants at homes of Omaha Police officers, Councilman Palermo
FBI Omaha agents served federal search warrants Tuesday morning at the homes of an Omaha city councilman and two city police officers.
