Carl E. Rauschenberger

Cincinnati Police Officer Badge 272
Greater Cincinnati Police Museum Docent

Carl was born on September 5, 1941. Soon after turning 18, Carl enlisted in the United State Navy on December 14, 1959. He served in the amphibious service as a Radioman in the Beachmaster Unit 1 (BMU1), operating off the attack cargo ship U.S.S. Uvalde. Radioman 3 Rauschenberger was honorably discharged December 14, 1963.

Carl joined the Cincinnati Police Division as a Police Recruit on September 27, 1964. He was promoted to Patrolman on December 28, 1964, issued Badge 411, and assigned to District 5 (1012 Ludlow Avenue). During 1966, Patrolman Rauschenberger resigned from the Cincinnati Police Division to join the Springfield Township Police Department as a Patrolman. About nine months later, he was reinstated to the Cincinnati Police Division on January 29, 1967, issued Badge 272, and assigned to District 1 (310 Lincoln Park Drive).

On October 26, 1967, Patrolman Rauschenberger was assigned to Police Juvenile Bureau to initiate a new program called School Resource Officer (SRO). Within a couple of months, he was playing in a jug band with students at Aiken High School. On January 5, 1968, working as an SRO and in an undercover capacity, he made the first arrest in the Greater Cincinnati area under the then new Ohio LSD law. Officer Rauschenberger and two other Cincinnati officers traveled to Chicago during February 1969 to attend a seminar intended to teach SROs how to teach about drugs. By April, he was traveling to civic associations to tell them about the drug epidemic. He and his expertise were featured in a 1970 Cincinnati Enquirer Magazine.

Patrolman Rauschenberger transferred to District 3 (3201 Warsaw Avenue) on February 7, 1971, and a month later, he transferred back to District 1. During 1977, he was again featured in a newspaper documentary referencing the Underwater Search Unit. Then in October 1977, he was featured again as a highly talented scrimshaw artist.

On June 24, 1979, he transferred back to District 5. On September 6, 1981, he transferred to Criminalistics Section where he recorded fingerprints and photographed major misdemeanants and all felons. On January 16, 1983, he transferred to District 4 (4150 Reading Road) and was almost immediately immersed in the investigation of serial murderer Alton Coleman.

Three more times up to 1985 he was featured for his work with the Hamilton County Police Association’s dive team. Also in 1985, he won an award at the Harvest Home Fare for his handmade train cars and was featured in yet another magazine article for train cars in 1986. He was also a very talented jewelry maker and metal engraver.

On November 25, 1990, he transferred to the Personal Crimes Unit in the Criminal Investigation Section. Also in 1990, he was featured in another article as one of two Cincinnati Police sketch artists.

Officer Rauschenberger “retired” on January 4, 1992, with an astounding 72 letters of appreciation and/or commendation.

During 1992, he developed West Chester’s Bicycle Training Program. During 1994, he was designing Greenhills’s Block Watch program. In 1995, he participated in a Bear Giving program in Springfield Township. Then in 2005, he was featured by Peter Bronson for training people in carrying concealed firearms. During his spare time, he served as the American Legion Post Commander in Greenhills. In 2006, Officer Rauschenberger joined the volunteers at the Police Museum.

Then, at 75, on May 22, 2017, he walked in on two brothers robbing the Key Bank on Springdale Road. He issued orders and they were seeming to comply when one pulled a revolver and started shooting at Carl. Carl returned fire, striking the shooter as he escaped out the front door. Within months, both were found, convicted, and incarcerated.

He still serves as a member of the Mount Saint Joseph Police Department and still qualifies retired police officers for concealed carry in his 65th year of service to his country and communities.