COVINGTON, KY – The Covington Police Department welcomed four new officers to its ranks last Tuesday evening.

Approved unanimously by the Board of Commissioners, the Police Department increased its staffing number to 109 sworn police officers out of the 110 authorized positions.

City Manager Larry Klein stated, “Last October, the Mayor and City Commission increased the number of Police Officers from 106 to 110. We are all very pleased to see the additional Police Officers being added to the ranks. The Mayor and City Commission also approved a new position in the Police Department in 2016, a Computer Forensics Analyst, to help with criminal investigations that involve computers, cellular telephones and other electronic devices.

“These officers choose to be here. They want to protect and serve the Covington community to further enhance its safety. Each candidate has an exemplary background that will serve as a valuable asset upon joining the Police Department.”

Assistant Chief Brian Steffen elaborated, “All of these candidates came very highly recommended to the Police Department by everyone that our staff talked to. They have shown that they can maintain the highest of standards set by the Police Department and have a clear understanding of our emphasis on service to the community.”

A Covington native, Daniel Elsbernd graduated from Holy Cross High School. He is a veteran of the Marine Corps where he served two tours in Iraq. Elsbernd has passed all mandated screening.

Michael Jansen is a graduate of Highlands High School and NKU where he received a Bachelor Degree in History. Upon graduation, he gained valuable experience working for Kentucky Probation and Parole. Jansen comes from a family with deep roots in Kentucky law enforcement.

Bryan Panko is a graduate of Dixie Heights High School and is currently pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice from Gateway Community and Technical College. He is a veteran of the Marine Corps where he served with distinction while deployed to Afghanistan. Panko also comes from a law enforcement family.

The fourth new Police Officer, Brian Powers, is a graduate of Oak Hills High School. He is a veteran of the United States Army and Kentucky National Guard where he was trained as a military police officer. He also served on deployments to Kuwait and Iraq.

Powers is a certified Kentucky Police Officer and previously worked for the Dayton, Kentucky Police Department prior to choosing to join the Covington Police Department.

Steffen welcomed the new Police Officers, stating, “We are very much looking forward to training these new officers and presenting them to our citizens.”