Retrospective on Louisville's Mayor, Jerry Abramson: PART FIVE

Well Said!!!!!

as a former "city" officer Tony was one of the first "County" C/O's I met. I always regarded him highly as he NEVER did anything to hurt me and was there when I had some issues that other C/O's would not listen to. Maybe some had/had issues with him because he was honest and let them know where he stood. Nothing wrong with that and it is more than we can say about the new LTCs and some of the other current command staff.

Once again we have a few young "MOMMA's" boys crying about a good officer and leader.... What happen "LIL" ones, did the big, bad, mean Lt. reject your app's for the SWAT team? Perhaps you did not have what it takes, after all a month before you went to the academy your were still living in you moms basement.......

It makes me giggle to hear some young officer tell a citizen that "I'm a COP", and then I notice that they have been serving since yesterday. Got some advice for you guys, they can dress a monkey in a uniform, give him a badge and gun and call him a Police Officer, but it takes years, yes years to be able to call yourself a "COP"..

News Flash, Lt. Tony Cobaugh is one of the best "Cops" I have ever met in my 23 years.

Tony I hope you and Julie enjoy your retirement, but I'm sure someone with your background will not stay retired for long.

six steps ahead:

I real people steps that would be 3.

Cobaugh steps would be 6.

LADIES & GENTLEMEN,

I'm just not the type of guy to send out a cheesy TO: All LMPD Users e-mail. Rather, I decided to send this out to specific sworn, non-sworn and retired police personnel. I'll probably, mistakenly and embarrassingly exclude someone, too. I'm middle-aged and occasionally suffer from CRS ("Can't Remember Sh--). It is most likely that you and I worked at the jail in the 70's (or, I worked with your parents), on the county police from 1982-2003, or on the LMPD since that day that will live in infamy – January 6, 2003! AUGH! Or, you might just be getting this because I respect what you stand for – a legal, moral and ethical-based life compass corner-stoned upon honor and integrity. Wow, what a novel set of words to use after these past eight (8) years of corruption and cronyism!

I started my career at the height of disco – May 9, 1977. We were all just "stayin' alive". I was hired on-the-spot by the "Metropolitan Correctional Services Department" (the Jefferson County Jail) after a hysterical job interview ("Cobaugh, have you ever been in a fight? Do you play sports?") with LTC E.O. Johnson that included no application, no background check, nothing! "Well, Cobaugh, go down to Gabes (on Preston) and get your uniforms." I started the next day. Within the first hour, I was assaulted with a typewriter by an inmate named Joe Eddie Hudson (he killed an armored car driver at the Southland Terrace J.C. Pennys in 1975). They sent me to the hospital. When I came back to work on the next day, I saw officers exchanging cash. They had made bets that I wouldn't be back. We moved into the new jail at the Hall of Justice in June 1977. I was lucky to have been promoted 3 times (sgt., lt., cpt.) in 5 years at corrections. In 1979, I created the entire department's training program. (There was nothing before that time.) This program won a national award from NACo for "excellence in training" in 1981. At about this time, I was in several of Mitch McConnell's TV election ads for county judge. The senator and I still laugh about these every time we see each other. In 1981, I created the Correctional Emergency Response Team (CERT) for the jail. Most importantly that year, along with the county police (LT. Marty Hornek, Sgt. Bill Howard, Ofc. Mike Richardson and Wilda Woodyard), I helped to open the Southfields Training Academy on Flat Rock Road. This 62-acre academy became a full-service training facility for 22 years.

On May 3, 1982, Chief Edgar G. "Butch" Helm, made my dream come true when he hired me as a county police recruit. My jail chief was nice enough to offer me a majors position at the jail, but, I learned that Class B Police Officer pay would be more, so, I humbly and respectfully turned it down. So, I had to move out of my Southfields jail training commanders office and report down-the-hall to the JCPD classroom. My basic training experience was great thanks to T.W. Shafner (Marine), Eddie Robinson and yes, even, Donnie "Bubba" Wilson ("People, you're ----ing up!") Tim Shafner became my primary FTO and on my first night on my first arrest, I experienced a one-of-a-kind lock up. After a motorcycle pursuit (Pursuit?), I cuffed one of my terminated classmates, Bob Stover. What's the chance of that? ….and the rest is history. During my officer career, I served in patrol, burglary, academy instructor, FTO and on SWATT beginning in September 1986. After a LT. friend said, "Hey, Cobaugh, every time a guy like you doesn't take a promotional test, a gutless, yellow, dumb-assed, sissy gets promoted!" Oh, I got mad at this guy and went home and didn't sleep. But, it worked, I went and signed up for the sergeants test, then, the lieutenants test. I was fortunate enough to be #1 on both lists and I died #3 on the captains list thanks to that rung on the career ladder being yanked out from under us at merger time. I have vivid memories of my career – many of them funny. However, I'll never forget one Sunday night in 1989 after I joined a LPD TAP (Traffic Alcohol Program) officers pursuit that began on 264 at the airport that came down Dixie Highway. When we boxed the car in near Kosmosdale, LPD Officer Bill Lewis made a passenger-side approach. One of the pursuing cars left his siren on and drowned out my scream of "GUN!" The driver brought a revolver up and shot Lewis and I watched him roll into the ditch. Several officers fired their weapons and as I began to squeeze my .12 gauge trigger, 2 LPD officers walked in my line of fire and I pulled my finger out of the trigger guard. Damn! Whew! The gunman was killed. Bill Lewis later recovered from his wound.

Well, you might remember that I was that damned ole, county FOP anti-merger president, too. The pro-merger folks could have had my vote if one important thing was part of their campaign – one very large police agency – the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office (comprised of city police, county police, jail and sheriffs). In that system, the public could elect their "police chief" without mayoral, or, SPI interference. So, it goes without saying, I'd have done it all over again if in that situation. Overall, Rick McCubbin was great to work with! I really enjoyed our friendship. Since the county cops lost everything and my successor FOP presidents either gave-away or bargained-away benefit after benefit, we all lost! End of that story. BY the way, contrary to the rumor mill, I like you "city kitties"

Well, after the past 8 years, it would be too easy for me to clearly and concisely articulate plenty of negativity about the LMPD, but, I will not. Rather, I want to say that I enjoyed my jobs (IA, Southfields Commander, FTEP Commander, CIT Commander, Patrol Bureau Commanders Ops LT, 2005 VCTF Co-Commander, Special Operations [River & SWAT]) and the great sworn and non-sworn co-workers that I had the privilege to stand beside. Ladies and gentlemen, it has been an honor for me to have served with you. To some of you receiving this, I regret not getting the chance to work beside you. We would have been great together!

Well, I could write a book about the past 33.5 years for they have been good to me solely because of people like you along my walk. I wish you and yours the very best of health, wellness and happiness in your lifetimes. I'll leave you with a few quotes.

"The police are the public and the public are the police."

"Love God. Love people. Serve both."

"If given the chance to lead, accept it humbly and graciously."

"Do not fear them. Remember the Lord and fight for your brothers!"

Respectfully,

Anthony Joseph Cobaugh