BY ANDREA TORTORA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON -- In 1898, 42 white men patrolled Covington's streets.
In stiff uniforms and hard helmets, many of them sporting mustaches, the men handled crimes such as drunk and disorderly conduct, burglary, larceny and malicious shooting.
That safe-keeping force was captured in a picture, now faded and crumbling at the edges. The photo shows no smiles; the men stand straight with their arms at their sides.
It was a different scene Saturday as Covington's 112 police officers took a one-hour break to pose for another photo in uniform 100 years after the original was taken.
Kenton County Police handled Covington's calls as officers arranged themselves in rows on a set of bleachers. The 1998 version looked a little different -- there were smiles and jokes and the faces of seven women and four African-Americans in the group.
And each officer wore a pin in memory of fallen Officer Mike Partin.
"We are fortunate enough to have that 100-year photo. And if anyone out there has an original uniform or helmet, we'd love to preserve it here at headquarters," Lt. Col. Steve Schmidt said. "We feel proud that we have that history."
Today's officers handle many of the same calls that summoned their counterparts in the early years of this century. Other calls, such as lunacy, no longer exist.
A page from the department's monthly report for October 1905 lists fines paid for assaults at $6 and $7.50. There was one malicious shooting, three assaults, one murder and one house break-in.
"Now compare that to what we do now," Lt. Col. Schmidt said. "There's a big difference."
It took nearly an hour for photographer Vince Re to get everyone in picture-perfect condition Saturday. As he moved people around, folks driving by on Madison Street honked and waved. Family members and news crews with cameras watched from the side.
"OK. Everybody smile and look this way," Mr. Re said as he began to snap several photos. Five minutes later, he let the force relax. "That's it."
Cheers erupted as the men and women spilled off the bleachers and back onto their beats.
