Cincinnati Police Capt. Cindy Combs recorded the best score on the recent assistant chief examination and soon will become the first woman promoted to that rank.

        Capt. Combs, commander of the communications section, will fill the vacancy created when Lt. Col James T. Smith retired earlier this year to become police chief in Pierce Township.

        “I'm very pleased,” Capt. Combs said Wednesday, just prior to going to dinner to celebrate . “I must have had the right answers.”

        Capt. Combs, who first remembers wanting to be a police officer as a 4-year old, scored a “105% point something” on the examination, easily outdistancing the other seven captains who completed the test.

        A graduate of Mother Mercy High School and the University of Cincinnati, the 42-year-old captain joined the police division in 1980 after a stint as a security guard. She was one of the youngest women to be promoted to captain, and the only woman to have taken the chief's examination. In 1999, she finished third on the chief's civil service examination with a score of 95.6%.

        Capt. Combs has worked as an undercover narcotics officer and public information spokeswoman, and has commanded the police division's criminal investigations, personnel and youth services sections.

        When she joined the police division she had no particular thoughts about rising through the ranks.

        “It was day-to-day trials and tribulations just to do a good job and be accepted,” Capt. Combs said. Her goal was to prove that a woman could be an asset to the division, she said.

        Chief Thomas Streicher said Wednesday that he is proud of command staff, which will soon consist of a white female, two white males and a black male.

        As for someday becoming chief: “I think I have a lot to offer the city, and I know that there are of lot of challenges (in the top spot),” Capt Combs said.

        For now she'll concentrate on doing a good job in her new position.

Feds recommend police revisions
Overhaul of force rules urged
Local cops say report not a surprise
Director of OMI fired by Shirey
Highlights of the Department of Justice report
Stories presaged aspects of feds' report
Choke hold not ruled out
For trial spectators, Nov. 7 frozen in time
Jurors to visit Owensby scene
County passes loan plan
Fuller bankruptcy erased $39K debt
Gift promotes women studying engineering
Grant to expand study of health risks to children
'Moms' send goodies to soldiers
Storm ushers in early cold snap
Tristate A.M. Report
UC plans dinner to honor 4 criminal court creators
Woman will be first promoted to assistant chief
HOWARD: Massage therapy for N.Y.
PULFER: Suzie Thompson
73 Super Stop to refund for gas gouging
Candidates partake in forum
Candidates respond to scenarios
Challengers: Lebanon council prickly, unresponsive
Election rekindles fire issue
Lebanon balks at three-way land swap
Museum brings learning to kids
NATO a player in Afghan war
Seminar directed toward black men
Sierra Club study rejects new highway
Trustee race about building
Blackwell begins how-to-vote education program
Florence closer to baseball team
Kenton OKs security measures, ponders more
Kentucky News Briefs
Newport restricts parking
Ryle band 4th in state
Slain man's aunt seeks answers