The Board of Regents is pleased to present a KUDOS Award to Sergeant Ricci Fast, Investigations & Education Sergeant for UNK Police. Originally from Castle Rock, CO, and a fan of the Broncos, Rockies, Avalanche, Nuggets and Lopers (he played baseball for the Lopers as an undergraduate).
Ricci earned an Associate’s degree from Otero Junior College in Colorado; a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from UNK; and next May plans to graduate with a Masters in Student Affairs, also from UNK. He began his career as a Police Officer in 2011 and was named Investigations & Education Sergeant in 2014.
It has been said that a good police officer possesses knowledge, skill and experience, and a great police officer has yet another quality: desire. Jim Davis, Director of Police and Parking Services, credits Ricci as having all of these. “Sergeant Fast hits the ground running each shift,” Jim reports. “He effectively and legally deals with trouble before it causes great harm and has a remarkable clearance record for crimes reported; he treats others with dignity and respect no matter who they are; he takes time to visit, to understand situations, and to make sure someone is being cared for; and he is always looking for ways to improve the Police Department, the University and himself.”
With responsibilities that include sexual assault investigation, crime prevention education and supervision of patrol officers, these are critical skills. Skills that have brought him both professional success and campus-wide respect. Keeping all in perspective, Ricci says, “My most important job in life is to be a great husband and father. Everything I do is with them in mind, and how to make their lives better.” His previous recognitions include the UNK Employee Achievement Award in 2013, and the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Hero Award for Education and Awareness in 2017.
With him today are his wife, Rachel and their daughters, Broxlynn and Beckitt. Congratulations, Sergeant Fast, for personal and professional excellence on behalf of the University of Nebraska and its students.