At the Bellevue city council meeting on Wednesday, Mayor Charlie Cleves read a proclamation honoring Police Sergeant Michael Taylor, who is retiring after 25 years of service to Northern Kentucky communities.
Taylor started his career with the Southgate Police Department in 1999 and also served with the Elsmere Police Department for four years before joining Bellevue in 2007.
As an experienced and senior member of the department, Taylor served as a firearms instructor, defensive tactics instructor and less lethal weapons instructor. He served on the Marshal’s Service Fugitive Task Force. He was also part of the department’s directed patrol unit conducting undercover drug buys, resulting in the apprehension of dozens of drug dealers, according to Chief Jon McClain.
Taylor graduated from the Department of Criminal Justice Training Academy of Police Supervision and the Criminal Justice Executive Development Course. He is a member of the Northern Kentucky Police Association and the Kentucky Police Chiefs Association.
“Michael Taylor is one who trained me when I started. We were both promoted to sergeant at the same time,” said McClain. “We’ve worked together for years. I know there’s been times where we’ve probably wanted to strangle each other, but we’ve always worked through our difficulties.”
Turning to Taylor, he said, “So, I want you to know I’m going to miss you, brother.”
The chief said that the tradition is to give retiring officers a generic badge symbolizing their years of service. For Taylor, he said, he had a special and more personal badge made to commemorate his years in service. He presented the badge and added that Taylor’s firearm would be decommissioned and presented to him as well as a gift from the department.
Taylor thanked his family, the police department, city leaders and the community.
Citizens honored
At the council meeting, Cleves also read proclamations honoring two Bellevue citizens.
He congratulated Robert Rothfuss on his 100th birthday. Rothfuss is a lifelong resident of Bellevue and a WWII veteran. He met and married his wife, Rosalie, and raised their family in the city. After the war, Rothfuss earned a degree in electrical engineering at the University of Cincinnati and in his career was instrumental in the design, development and patenting of the surgical stapler and other related devices. He has served on the Bellevue Board of Education, the Bellevue Education Foundation and has been active in the Bellevue Baptist Church.
Cleves also honored Reverend Keith Haithcock, who is retiring after 25 years as the pastor of the St. John United Church of Christ in Bellevue.
“Reverend Haithcock ministered at the 135-year-old St. John church where a beacon of hope was offered to diverse parishioners, and where he offered an open, affirming, inviting and accessible ministry to members of the church,” said Cleves.