Under NE State Law, who is authorized to take a person into Emergency Protective Custody?

• A. Police Officers
• B. Corrections Officers
• C. Police Officers and Corrections Officers
• D. Emergency Medical Technicians

Answer: (C)

Emergency Protective Custody is a protective step used when a person appears to be a danger to themselves or others or cannot care for themselves due to a mental condition, requiring immediate removal to a facility for evaluation. In Nebraska, the authority to place someone into EPC rests with sworn officers who can detain a person for evaluation. This power also extends to corrections officers when they are acting in their official capacity with a person needing protective custody. Emergency Medical Technicians do not have the authority to initiate EPC themselves; their role is medical transport and support, not initiating custody.