Curt was born December 4, 1942 to former professional boxer, Philip George Herkert and Anna Margaret “Toots” (Smedley) Herkert. He attended Reading High School where he participated in Track. After graduating in 1961, he participated in Golden Gloves Boxing.
Also after high school, he went to work as a Night Clerk for the Kroger Store at Hamilton and North Bend. During May 1966, he took over the Dairy Department at the Marsh Super Market in Forest Park.
Curt joined the Cincinnati Police Division on June 18, 1967 as a Police Recruit. He was promoted to Patrolman on September 10, 1967, issued Badge 369, and assigned to District 2 (314 Broadway). On August 29, 1967 Patrolman Herkert, while investigating a traffic incident, discovered the murder of a man on Broadway and quickly acted on four suspicious persons he had seen earlier resulting in the nearly immediate arrest of the murderer. During 1970, the Division purchased two patrol scooters for District 2 and Patrolman Herkert was one of several trained on them. On February 2, 1971, District 2 merged with District 1 (310 Lincoln Park Drive) where Patrolman Herkert spent the rest of his career.
During 1975, 222 officers competed in a promotional examination for Police Specialist. Officer Herkert finished fourth and, on July 13, 1975, was promoted to Police Specialist, and issued Badge PS-220. Specialist Herkert spent years assigned to the Special Operations Unit directing traffic on foot in the Central Business District. By 1984, he took up boxing again, this time in the statewide police Olympics. He finished his career on a three-wheel motorcycle. Specialist Herkert retired January 9, 1994 with 26 years of service and 26 letters of appreciation and/or commendation; including from five Cincinnati police chiefs and one from a Reading police chief.
He then went to work for the Hamilton County Bailiff’s Office for another 15 years about 2009 with 41 years of service to his community and county.
Near the beginning of 2016, Specialist Herkert was diagnosed with Mast Cell Leukemia, a very rare, aggressive, and incurable blood cell cancer with a usual prognosis of less than 6 months. Herk the Hulk battled the disease 6½ years, dying peacefully at 9:30 p.m. on June 14, 2022 at the age of 79½.
He was predeceased by his brother, Eugene Herkert. Specialist Herkert is survived by his wife of 55 years, Rebecca Catherine “Becky” (Lehmkhul) Herkert; children, Catherine Ann (Keith) Menter, Christina Marie (Jerry) Schul, and Curtis Philip (Dawn Fox) Herkert; grandchildren, Kinsey (Eric) Phifer, Connor Menter, Keagan Menter, Catelyn Schul, Hunter Schul, Odessa Herkert, and Winter Uecker; great-grandchildren, Keeleigh Phifer, Elliott Phifer, Aletha Baker, and Lisa Baker; and sister, Phillys (Jerry) Becker.
Visitation will be held 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on June 21, 2022 at Mueller Funeral Home at 6791 Tylersville Road at Mason. An FOP service will be held at 10:45 a.m. A prayer service will be held at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to a GoFundMe page to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
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