New Covington Police Officer Jordan Bussell poses with Assistant Chief Justin Wietholter and Mayor Joe Meyer.
COVINGTON, Ky. – Covington’s newest police officer has an engineering degree and engineering experience but – in his words – wanted a new career of service.
“I want to be in the (Covington and law enforcement) community, and I want to help people,” said Jordan Bussell, who was sworn in and received his badge during a short ceremony at City Hall today.
Bussell will head to the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training in November and then complete about 20 weeks of in-house training before patrolling Covington’s streets, Assistant Chief Justin Wietholter said.
Bussell has a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from Eastern Kentucky University and previously worked as an engineer for Hitachi Automotive Systems Americans and an application engineer for Stober Drives.
After handing Bussell his badge, Wietholter pointed out the four words engraved on its back – integrity, professionalism, justice and compassion – and said they should serve as the core values for every officer. He also told Bussell’s family of the need for continuing support.
“When he chose to get into this profession, he dragged you along with him,” Wietholter said. “He’s going to need your support.”
Covington Mayor Joe Meyer, who swore in Bussell, explained the gravity of the career.
“This is a calling, not just a job,” Meyer said. “That’s what makes your commitment to this work so important.”
Being an officer is interesting but also challenging, given the economic, ethnic, and racial diversity of Covington’s neighborhoods and people and the many roles an officer is required to fill, the mayor said.
“Beyond enforcing the law, you’re called to be a marriage counselor and to deal with domestic violence and mental health problems,” Meyer said. “When you’re a police officer in Covington, you have the full support of City leadership, as well as leaders in the Chief’s office. Our Police Department is highly rated, and we want to keep it that way – our relationship with our community is very important to us.”
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