Ron Washington - Covington

Ron came to Covington as a newborn to live with his foster mother, Anna

Washington. He was adopted and grew up in the Washington family’s 1860s

Italianate house in Covington’s Old Town/Mutter Gottes neighborhood.

Ron is a proud product of the Covington Independent Public Schools. He

graduated from Holmes High School in 1986. He regularly volunteers his time

to help students. He is the “voice” of the Lady Bulldogs basketball program,

announcing all the team’s home games.

Ron is a retired law enforcement officer. He was the first African-American

officer to work in Florence. He is a graduate of the Kentucky Department of

Criminal Justice Training Police Academy in Richmond, Ky., and the FBI

National Academy at Quantico, Va. He was the Chief Deputy Kenton County

Sheriff for five years. Ron’s rank of colonel makes him still the highest-ranking

black police officer to ever work in Northern Kentucky. He remains an active

member of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #20.

After retiring from police work, Ron became a pioneer in the fight against

heroin and other opiate addiction. He founded one of the largest medication-

assisted treatment centers in Kentucky. The center has helped thousands of

people into recovery by reducing or eliminating their dependence on heroin

and other drugs.

Ron is a life-long community volunteer. He was a Parish Kitchen board

member for several years and now serves on several boards and committees

for the city and the commonwealth.