Cleophus John "Clay" Eifert

Covington Police Department — Covington, KY

Felonious

End of Watch February 8, 1946

Age 39

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Badge 53

The Vigil Panel 82 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 8

Incident

Patrolman Cleophus Eifert was shot and killed after responding to a domestic disturbance on the third floor of a rooming house at 114 W. 4th Street. Patrolman Eifert was shot in the chest while climbing a staircase. Before collapsing, the officer fired six shots, striking the gunman in the leg. The gunman survived and served seven years in prison for the murder. Patrolman Eifert was survived by his wife, son, daughter, father, and siblings. His son went on to join the Covington Police Department and retired as a police captain there. Patrolman Eifert's grandson also joined the department and finished his career there as a sergeant. His great-grandson similarly joined the department, served as the president of the Covington Fraternal Order of Police until 2009 and continues to serve the department. The department established has established the Cleophus John Eifert Award, which may be bestowed upon agency officers who suffer severe wounds or injury in the performance of their duties.

Survivors

Patrolman Eifert was survived by his wife, son, daughter, father, and siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-7C99EBEC
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Eifert gave the Covington Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Covington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Eifert.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Covington Police Department

Location Covington, KY

Platform Identity cpd.kenton.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 8, 1946

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 39

Badge Number 53

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber

Offender Served 7 years

Patrolman Cleophus John "Clay" Eifert is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 22.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Covington Police Department, 5 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.6% of this agency's fallen.

Covington Police Department

of 9 officers

55.6% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious