Sergeant Ronald Harvey “Ron” Kissinger S-88
(1939-2025)

 

 

Ron and his brother, Don, were born June 30, 1939, the second and third sons were born to William Harvey and Edna Kissinger of Deer Park. Both Ron and Don attended and were highly active at Deer Park High School, including playing football and tennis. They played as a team in doubles matches. They also played hockey for the Cincinnati Junior Mohawks. They graduated in 1958.

Ron joined the Cincinnati Police Division on May 22, 1961 in its 39th Recruit Class. On August 28, 1961, he was promoted to Patrolman, issued Badge 560, and assigned to District 4 (7017 Vine Street). Already in late 1962, Chief Stanley Schrotel commended him for saving a man who was threatening suicide by jumping out a window. As he went out the window, Patrolmen Kissinger and Louis Wabnitz grabbed hold of his ankles and were almost carried to their deaths were it not for Lieutenant Joe Crawford grabbing their belts. A month later, Colonel Schrotel commended him again for a strong-armed robbery and auto larceny arrest. On November 24, 1963, Patrolman Kissinger was rotated to District 6 (3295 Erie Avenue). By August 1965, he received two more commendations from the Chief’s Office in July and August 1965 for the auto larceny arrests. On March 21, 1966, hearing a report of a family overcome by carbon monoxide, Patrolmen Kissinger and Donald Brown entered the home filled with poison gas and removed the unresponsive occupants, all of which survived. In December 1968, he received another Chief’s Commendation for a burglary arrest. The Madeira Police Chief commended him in May 1971 for the apprehension of an armed robber from their jurisdiction. Patrolman Kissinger transferred to District 5 (1012 Ludlow Avenue) on May 2, 1971. He was selected to attend the prestigious “Homicide Seminar” in November 1972.

In July 1973, he was transferred to the first of three stints in the Personnel Section, Recruiting Unit. On June 15, 1973, Patrolman Kissinger returned to the field in District 3 (3201 Warsaw Avenue). He transferred to District 2 on January 30, 1977 and was assigned to the Investigative Unit. In July 1979, Chief Myron Leistler commended him for the arrests of suspects in a series of drug store robberies. By March 1978 he was additionally assigned as a hostage negotiator for the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team as a Negotiator.

On June 30, 1979, his 40th birthday, Officer Kissinger married Nancy J. Lightfield.

Officer Kissinger returned to the Recruiting Unit on October 7, 1979. In 1982, he competed in a promotional examination for Sergeant and finished high enough to be promoted in February 1982. Anticipating his promotion, in April he was assigned to New Sergeants’ Training. After a helicopter crash involving Lieutenant Bill Beahr, Officer Kissinger took over in WLW’s “traffic copter.” He and others were still not promoted to the vacancies, so they sued for promotion in October 1982. He returned to District 2 on January 16, 1983. Then, in July, he transferred back to Personnel. He and the other officers won their lawsuit, and he was promoted to Police Sergeant on September 10, 1986, retroactive to 1982, issued Badge S-88, and reassigned to District 2.

On January 17, 1988, Sergeant Kissinger was assigned to be Safety Director David Rager’s Liaison Officer. By September 1988 he volunteered for assignment to the Hamilton County Police Association’s Dive Team. On January 14, 1990, Sergeant Kissinger was assigned to the Internal Investigation Section. Sergeant Kissinger retired on July 7, 1990, one week after his 51st birthday, with 31 years of service to his community and 64 letters of appreciation and/or commendation.

He was then appointed as a Hamilton County Deputy Bailiff and served another 15 years.

Ron was also a gifted hockey player, coach, and referee. He played for the Junior Mohawks for a decade and was consistently one of the leading scorers and defensemen. They won five straight Midwest Amateur Hockey League Championships by 1963. By 1966, he was the team’s coach, and they won three consecutive championships in 1966 through 1968. He then coached Moeller High School’s first hockey team from 1983 to May 6, 1986.

Sergeant Kissinger died at 1:30 a.m. on July 6, 2025, six days after his 86th birthday and 46th wedding anniversary.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Nancy J. (Ball) Kissinger; children, Kimberly A. (Gary L.) Jump, former Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge Curtis (Karen) Edward Kissinger, and Lisa Gregory; grandchildren, Madeleine, Amelia, Evan, Ryan, and Lucy; and siblings, twin brother, Donald Kissinger and  Carol Hardin.

A visitation will be held on Friday, July 11, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Crossroads Church (east entrance) at 3500 Madison Road in Oakley. FOP Services will be held at 12:45 p.m. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Greater Cincinnati Police Museum, 308 Reading Road, Suite 201, Cincinnati, OH 45202 or a charity of your choice.

 

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