OMAHA, Neb. -- The Urban League of Nebraska introduced retired Omaha Police Chief Thomas Warren as its new president and chief operating officer on Friday.

Warren said he wants to revitalize the Urban League's role in the community, and he's ready to lead.

"I've never been afraid to lead," Warren said. "You have to take chances, and I can tell you, I'll work extremely hard at whatever my chosen vocation may be. As I explained to the board, I will give 110 percent effort to this endeavor."

Warren spent 24 years in the Omaha Police Department. He said he's spent a lifetime in service to the community.

"Youth development, education -- I've always had a commitment to service," Warren said.

Warren said that his first order of business will be evaluating the organization's stability and finances. Then, he'll turn his primary focus to the north Omaha community.

"When you talk about an area where African-Americans in northeast Omaha have the eighth percentage highest rate of poverty in the United States of America -- that's a serious issue," Warren said.

North Omaha activist Preston Love Jr. said Warren is the right man for the job.

"He has established a credibility, and he has relationships with lots of people who can help the Urban League and who can therefore help the community," Love said.

Warren said he submitted his resume for the new job in November. He said he was aproached the job on Dec. 27 and told Mayor Mike Fahey on Dec. 28. Warren said on Friday that he was tight-lipped about his new job because he hadn't officially been offered the position until earlier this week.

Last Friday was Warren's last day as chief of police. Eric Buske is serving as interim chief while the mayor conducts an internal search for a new chief.