KENTON RECORDER
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Covington police mourn the loss of ‘decorated’ K-9 Ernie Quinlan Bentley Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK
Ernie, a retired Covington police K-9 unit, died of cancer on Friday. PROVIDED, ROB SANDERS
Covington police are mourning the loss of Ernie, a retired K-9 offi cer who made headlines during his nearly decade-long career. Ernie died of cancer on Friday, Capt. Justin Wietholter said in an email to The Enquirer. “Yesterday we lost the most famous K-9 in Kenton County history,” Kenton County Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Sanders said in a tweet Sunday. “Rest easy Ernie.”
Ernie had a “decorated career,” with more than eight years as a K-9 offi cer before retiring late last year, Wietholter said. “K-9 Ernie has been one motivated and dedicated K-9, not just for Covington police but for all of Kenton County,” a dispatcher said during Ernie’s end of watch broadcast. “Those paws are going to be hard to fi ll.” In 2015, Ernie – who at that time was a three-year veteran of the force – was shot twice after a man wanted for attempted murder exchanged gunfi re with police. Despite his injuries, he was back on
his bandaged feet the next day. He and his handler were later awarded a Citation for Bravery by the city. As a result of the shooting, a Kentucky law was amended in 2017 to make assaulting a police dog a felony charge. That law is now known as “Ernie’s Law.” Just 14 months after Ernie was shot, he and his handler, Offi cer Michael Lusardi, were involved in a hit-skip crash while traveling southbound down Interstate 71/75, according to a 2016 Enquirer story. The cruiser sustained moderate to heavy damage and both Ernie and Lusardi required medical treatment.
A view of the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge without motor vehicles on it on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020 in Cincinnati. On Feb. 15 it will be closed for more than nine months for a restoration project. ALBERT CESARE/THE ENQUIRER
Roebling Bridge to close for nine months Hannah K. Sparling Cincinnati Enquirer USA TODAY NETWORK
The John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge between Downtown and Covington will be closed for more than nine months for a restoration project. The historic bridge over the Ohio River, which sees about 9,000 vehicles a day, was reduced to a single lane of traffi c on Feb. 1. Then, on Feb. 15, the bridge will be completely closed to vehicles. The $4.7 million project includes masonry work and repairing and replacing sections of the bridge's sandstone towers. In 2019, the bridge was closed for four months after chunks of sandstone fell from one of the towers. The bridge is expected to reopen to traffi c by the end of November, with the overall project slated for completion by Dec. 31, according to a news release from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. The bridge's pedestrian walkway will remain open during the closure. The Roebling is one of Cincinnati's most beautiful and iconic bridges, but it is also prone to closures. Prior to the 2019 closure, the bridge was closed in parts of 2006 and 2007 for some structural and electrical repairs, according to records from the transportation cabinet. In 2009 and 2010, it was closed for a painting project.
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Isaac Wright image of the top of the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge. USED WITH PERMISSION FROM ISAAC WRIGHT
In 2018, it was closed for a little longer than a month after a driver ran into one of the columns. Recently, after a crash and fi re on the nearby Interstate 71/75 Brent Spence
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Bridge, the Roebling was briefl y closed to prevent heavy trucks from improperly using the Roebling as a detour. During the 2019 closure, businesses owners told The Enquirer the lack of ac-
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cess was threatening their livelihoods. Editor’s note: Information included refl ects this article’s original publication date – Jan. 28. Visit Cincinnati.com for possible updates.
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