Covington welcomes three new police officers including retired captain

The City of Covington has officially welcomed three police officers to its ranks. The ceremony took place at City Hall, with the presence of family members and senior officers. The new officers are Lucas Mann, Terrell Meadows, and Robert Rose.

Lucas Mann joins the department after serving as a U.S. Marine since May 2020 and previously working in a library in California. Terrell Meadows comes from a background as a national account manager at MegaCorp Logistics and has experience as a deputy jailer and field training officer at the Campbell County Detention Center.

Robert Rose returns to the Covington Police Department after retiring on August 31 following a 25-year career. During his tenure, he advanced from patrol officer to captain, holding various roles such as Administrative Bureau Commander and Criminal Investigations Assistant Commander. Rose was rehired under a state program aimed at retaining experienced officers.

Mann and Meadows will attend the police academy at the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training in Richmond for further training.

Assistant Police Chief Justin Wietholter highlighted the core values of integrity, professionalism, justice, compassion, and respect inscribed on their badges. He acknowledged the challenges of policing but emphasized its rewarding nature: “This is a stressful job – you’ve seen all the scrutiny out there … but you will find no job that is more rewarding or that has a bigger sense of camaraderie.”

Mayor Joe Meyer administered the oath and commended the department's standards: “Serving in the Covington Police Department is an extraordinary honor,” Meyer said. He described Covington's unique challenges due to its metropolitan location while emphasizing its diversity as both strength and challenge.

Meyer addressed the multifaceted role police officers play in society: “Whenever society encounters a problem it can’t solve, we give it to the police,” he stated. Speaking to families present, he stressed their crucial support: “A police officer cannot survive without strong family support.”