Fort Wright police cruisers. Photo provided | Fort Wright Police Department

The Fort Wright Police Department announced the promotion of three officers.

The promotions include:

  • Captain Jonathan Colwell will assume the role of chief of police. He replaces Ed Butler who was recently hired as the director of security for Thomas More University.
  • Sergeant Rob Griffin is being promoted to Captain
  • Officer Nick VonHandorf is being promoted to Sergeant. 

Colwell is a 12-year veteran of the Fort Wright Police Department. He has previously served as a patrol officer, sergeant, captain and interim chief of police. Before joining the Fort Wright Police, Colwell served for ten years at the Kenton County Detention Center, where he rose to the rank of captain.

Griffin is a nine-year veteran of the Fort Wright Police Department. He has served the city as both a patrol officer and sergeant. Prior to joining the city, he served at Louisville Metro Corrections and at the Kenton County Detention Center, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant.

VonHandorf is also nine-year law enforcement veteran. He has served a total of six years with the City of Fort Wright and served in the City of Bellevue. 

Butler, whose last day with the city is scheduled for June 14, has served the police chief since March of 2020. In total, he has almost 33 years of public sector experience. He previously served for the Kenton County Police Department where he retired as police chief at the end of 2011. 

After that, Butler held various roles, including executive director of the Kenton County Emergency Communications Center, city administrator of Fort Wright, chief deputy for the Kenton County Detention Center and chief of police for Fort Wright.

The promotions went into effect on June 14.

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