Specialist Charles “Chuck” Zimmerman P-141 (1949-2022)

Chuck was born March 24, 1949, to Charles and Yvonne (Joseph) Zimmerman. He attended Elder High School where he participated in Track and graduated in 1967. He then attended the University of Cincinnati until 1969, majoring in Industrial Management.

While attending high school, Chuck worked at Skyline Chili on Madison Road. In March 1968 he joined the City of Cincinnati as an auto inspector at the Safety Lane on Central Parkway.

Chuck joined the Cincinnati Police Division as a Recruit on July 30, 1972. He was promoted to Patrolman on December 17, 1972, issued Badge 141, and assigned to District 3 (3201 Warsaw Avenue). A year later, he was rotated to District 1 (310 Lincoln Park Drive). During 1980, he became one of the first bicycle officers in sixty plus years. Police Officer Zimmerman transferred to District 4 (4150 Reading Road) on February 3, 1985. Seven months later, he returned to District 1.

In 1987, Officer Zimmerman won a gold medal in the 100-meter run at the regional Police Olympics. On March 4, 1989, he transferred to the Police Academy and served for five years at the Division’s physical training instructor. He won another gold and a silver in the 1992 Police Olympics, then a silver and bronze in the international Police Olympics. He was promoted to Police Specialist on March 7, 1993 and issued Badge PS-8. He also was a key member of the much-heralded Fraternal Order of Police Softball Team.

Specialist Zimmerman returned to District 1 in 1994. Even as his career was ending, his supervisor wrote that he was a seasoned veteran that could be counted on in any assignment he was given. Specialist Zimmerman retired on April 17, 1999, with almost 31 years of service to the city and 41 letters of appreciation and/or commendation, including from a police chief, fire chief, and Cincinnati City Manager.

He then worked 15 more years for Akal Security, with the United States Marshal Service until 2014.

Specialist Zimmerman died on March 7, 2022, at Good Samaritan Hospital with his wife and children at his side. He was almost 73 years of age.

He is survived by his wife of almost 36 years, retired Cincinnati Police Specialist Regina A. (Butler) Zimmerman; twin children Kyle Zimmerman and Kelli (Zak) Rosselott; grandchildren, Kyler Zimmerman, Breanna Rosselott, Lydia Rosselott, and Elsie Rosselott; and sisters, Yvette (Michael) Grodi, Colette Cavins, and Carol Vassel.

Visitation will be held 12 to 3 p.m. on Thursday, March 17, 2022, at Radel Funeral Home at 650 Neeb Road.  An FOP service will be held at 3 p.m.

© 2022 – All rights reserved to LT Stephen R. Kramer RET and the Greater Cincinnati Police Museum

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