By Rebecca Goodman
The Cincinnati Enquirer

LOVELAND - Howard L. Rogers, retired lieutenant colonel for the Cincinnati Police Department, died Friday of unknown causes at Jewish Hospital Kenwood. The Loveland resident was 74.

Mr. Rogers worked his way up the ranks through the Cincinnati Police Department - serving as assistant chief, executive officer and special assistant to the city manager - during his more than 30 years as a police officer.

He helped to protect John F. Kennedy in his two visits here during his campaign and his presidency. And he served the city during many of its most tense moments, such as the riots of the late 1960s.

He was dubbed a "cool cop" by the local press for his role in defusing a domestic hostage situation without violence in the late 1970s.

"He lived and worked with the hallmark values and determination of what I see in native Cincinnatians," said his daughter, Lauren Rogers of Cincinnati.

During the 1970s, Mr. Rogers received the Brotherhood Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews, later renamed the National Conference for Community and Justice.

He retired from the Cincinnati Police Department in 1981 and became chief of police in Evanston, Ill.

In 1985 he incorporated Rogers, Rogers & Associates, a consulting firm that conducted several nationwide police chief executive searches. He was still working at the time of his death.

Mr. Rogers graduated magna cum laude from the University of Cincinnati, where he went on to study in the doctoral program at the College of Education. He also held a business degree from Salmon P. Chase College and in police administration from Northwestern University.

Survivors include three other daughters, Susan McCreary of Atlanta, Elisabeth Strecker of Milford and Anne Rogers of Taylor Mill; two sons, Howard II of Montgomery and Thomas of New York, N.Y.; a sister, Louise Boone of Cincinnati; two grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.

Services have been held. Interment was at Arlington Memorial Gardens in Mount Healthy.

E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com