(Photo 1): New Covington Police Officer Neil Boshoff was sworn in by Vice Mayor Ron Washington, left.

(Photo 2): Police Chief Rob Nader, left, hands Officer Boshoff his badge.

COVINGTON, Ky. – Covington’s newest police officer has over 10 years’ law enforcement experience in the state of Missouri.

Neil Boshoff was sworn in by Vice Mayor Ron Washington and received his badge this morning in a brief ceremony at City Hall.

As a lateral hire, he will not have to attend the academy run by the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training but will begin patrolling in Covington after 12-16 weeks of in-house training, Police Chief Rob Nader said.

Washington welcomed Boshoff to the City and stressed the need to have a good working relationship with the community.

“As a retired police officer myself, I know that this can be one of the greatest and most rewarding jobs a person can have – as long as one always remembers that you’re here to serve the people,” Vice Mayor Washington said. “The City and the citizens of Covington are placing their trust in you, and I’m sure you’ll be successful.”

Boshoff comes to Covington from the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department, where he was a detective sergeant. He was with that agency for nine years and also was a firearms instructor, a member of its warrant service team, and oversaw its drug interdiction unit while assigned to the DEA’s St. Louis Division Task Force.

Previously he served with the St. James (Mo.) Police Department for a year and a half and before that was a law enforcement officer for almost four years with the Tshwane Metropolitan Police Service in Pretoria, South Africa.

Nader said the department was thrilled to gain an experienced officer.

“On the back of your badge are our core values – the words ‘integrity, professionalism, justice and compassion’ – you will live and be judged by those,” the Chief said, handing him the badge (above).

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