KEARNEY, Neb. - The next superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol is saying goodbye to the city he served for the last six and a half years. 

When Chief Bryan Waugh attended the Kearney City Council meeting on Tuesday night, he was honored for his time leading the city's police force.  

During the meeting, Waugh shared a story about when he attended a city council meeting in 2018 and what made him officially decide he wanted to work in Kearney.  

“I just so happened to be in attendance at then retiring, Chief Dan Lynch, and he stood right here while I sat back there, anonymously, and I listened to his comments to city council on that night," Waugh said. "He said, specifically, 'Being a police chief in the city of Kearney is the best place to be a police chief in the United States of America.' And I couldn't agree more.” 

Waugh received a key to the city from the council and a proclamation of how grateful the members are for all Waugh has brought to Kearney.