Sergeant Calvin F. “Cal” Long, Jr. S-130
(1947-2025)
Cal was born on July 1, 1947 to Calvin F. and Janet H. Long, Sr. of Bond Hill. He attended Indian Hill High School where he played baseball and graduated in 1965. He also attended the University of Cincinnati, majoring in Police Science.
Cal joined the Cincinnati Police Division on July 23, 1967 as a Police Cadet and was assigned to the Crime Bureau (City Hall). On November 19, 1967, he was promoted to Police Recruit and joined the Division’s 49thRecruit Class. On February 25, 1968, Recruit Long was assigned to District 4 (7017 Vine Street). He was promoted to Patrolman on July 7, 1968 and issued Badge 554. On December 15, 1970, several minutes after an armed robbery, Patrolman Long saw a man fitting the description of the robber. The man ran and Patrolman Long gave chase. The man suddenly turned and, while Long ducked for cover, fired a shot at the officer. He lost the trail of the shooter. On October 4, 1972, Patrolman Long, while on routine patrol, foiled a burglary in progress at the Swifton Shopping Center. Patrolman Long transferred to District 1 (310 Lincoln Park Drive) on February 25, 1973. On April 3, 1973, again on routine patrol, he came upon a fight in the street. When he got out to quell the disturbance, one man pulled a gun and pointed it at Patrolman Long, who shot first and wounded the man in the chest and arm. He was transferred to District 6 (3295 Erie Avenue) on January 5, 1975. He was promoted to Sergeant on June 22, 1975, issued Badge S-130, and assigned to the Training Section. Two months later, he transferred to District 5 (1012 Ludlow Avenue). On January 9, 1977, Sergeant Long was assigned to Internal Investigations Section. After six months, he was assigned to Central Vice Control Section. During his short tenure there, he received two letters of commendation from the Police Chief, one for a bookmaking investigation and another for arrests of six major suppliers of marijuana. He completed the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy in December 1977. On June 17, 1979, he was assigned to the Chief’s Office as a liaison with the Safety Director’s Office. Within 12 years, he had amassed sufficient diverse operational, staff, investigative, administrative, and supervisory training and experience to manage a small department, and sixteen letters of appreciation and/or commendation, including four from police chiefs.
On November 10, 1979, Sergeant Long resigned to take over the Security Department at General Electric in Evendale. He also worked as a law enforcement consultant. He later retired from General Electric.
Sergeant Long was also a past President of the American Arts Society of Cincinnati, an artist and self-taught painter, and, in 2004, a heart transplant recipient.
Sergeant Long died on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at the age of 78.
He was predeceased by his brother-in-law, Ronald Osterbrock. Sergeant Long was survived by his wife, Patricia L. (Kelley) Long; children, Melanie (Andy) Head and Adam Long; grandchildren, Nina Head and Leila Head; step-grandchildren, Linnea Prosser, Sammy Lapka, Andrew Head, Molly Rahtz, Will Rahtz, Elle Rahtz, and Emily Rahtz; and sister, Joan Osterbrock.
A gathering of family and friends will be held at Megie Funeral Home & Crematory at 529 Main Street in Milford on Saturday, August 9, 2025, from 12 to 2 p.m.
Memorials may be made to an animal rescue of one’s choice or to the American Heart Association.
© 2025 – All rights are reserved to LT Stephen R. Kramer RET and the Greater Cincinnati Police Museum