Photo 1: Covington Police Chief Brian Valenti hands new Officer Judah Hartenstein his badge.
Photo 2: Mayor Ron Washington issues the oath of office.
Photo 3: From left, Mayor Ron Washington, City Commissioner James Toebbe, new Officer Judah Hartenstein, and Police Chief Brian Valenti.
Newest police officer takes oath of office
COVINGTON, Ky. – Covington’s newest police officer is a 2nd Lieutenant in the Ohio Army National Guard who until recently was a Montana Highway Patrol Trooper.
Judah Hartenstein took the oath of office during a brief ceremony at Covington City Hall today in front of his family and several high-ranking Covington officers.
Hartenstein has patrolled in Montana since September 2021 and first joined the Ohio National Guard in February 2017 and has served as a 2nd lieutenant since August 2023. Previously he was an ROTC Cadet at the University of Cincinnati, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice.
He is originally from Liberty Township, Ohio.
Mayor Ron Washington, who issued the oath of office and is himself a former police officer, gave brief remarks in which he talked about Covington’s diversity and unique character and the challenges of being a police officer in this era.
It’s a job, he said, where one moment you could be saving a life and the next you could yourself be put in danger.
“It’s a tough job but it’s a very honorable job,” Washington said. “And I’m not going to lie to you – it’s a fun job.”
Police Chief Brian Valenti, who gave Hartenstein his new badge, as usual noted the five words on the badge -- integrity, professionalism, justice, compassion, and respect.
“These represent our core values, and as long as you follow them in your decision-making, you’re going to be on the right path,” Valenti said. “I look forward to having you on the street.”
Hartenstein does not have to attend a downstate training academy. He will enter Covington’s in-house field training program after undergoing training in Kentucky law, policy and procedure, as well as use of force and some additional administrative training.
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