Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer did something today he’s never done before.

He endorsed his boss’ re-election.

Schmaderer, insisting he is acting as a private citizen and not as police chief, has tossed his support to Republican Mayor Jean Stothert.

Three years ago Stothert led the push to hike the chief’s salary from $184,000 a year to $198,000, an eight percent hike.

And by the end of this year he'll be making $217,000 a year, a $33,000 dollar raise in four years.

NCN’s Joe Jordan spoke with the chief and the mayor about the endorsement and those raises

[See our exclusive Q and A above]

Schmaderer's raise was approved by the city council.

Stothert is coming off a landslide win in the city primary, and faces Democrat RJ Neary in the May 11th general election.

Neary finished the five-way primary with 16 per cent of the vote.