Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Donald Ronnebaum was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer while assisting at the scene of an accident on Interstate 75 near Covington. Heavy rains for two days caused traffic jams and multiple accidents on the rain-slicked road. Patrolman Ronnebaum was directing traffic at the scene of another accident when a tractor-trailer attempted to brake when he came upon the slowed-down vehicles. The tractor-trailer jackknifed, and six vehicles were involved in the pile-up. Patrolman Ronnebaum was crushed against a guardrail. Patrolman Ronnebaum was a United States Navy World War II veteran and had served with the Covington Police Department for 11 years. He was survived by his wife and four children. He is buried at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens in Taylor Mill, Kenton County, Kentucky.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-075ECF1D- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Ronnebaum gave the Covington Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Covington community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Donald E. Ronnebaum served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Patrolman Donald E. Ronnebaum is one of 10,094 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,586 officers honored here.
In KY, 161 of 983 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 16.4% of this state's fallen. That is 14.6 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Covington Police Department, 4 of 9 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 44.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Donald E. Ronnebaum's cause is highlighted.
How Donald E. Ronnebaum Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Donald E. Ronnebaum is highlighted in Jul.
Incident Location
Military Service
Donald E. Ronnebaum served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit Donald E. Ronnebaum’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
8 officers from Covington Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
