Two members of the Cincinnati Police Department will be promoted in a ceremony at 10:00 a.m. Thursday May 15 in the second floor conference room at Police Headquarters, 310 Ezzard Charles Drive.  Chief Thomas H. Streicher, Jr. will preside and administer the oath of office to Sergeant Abraham Lawson and Police Specialist Kenneth Byrne.

Sergeant Abraham Lawson is a graduate of Woodward High School and he earned a bachelor’s degree at Bowling Green State University.  He is a military veteran who served his country in the United States Navy.  In July 1997 he entered the 84th Recruit Class of the Police Academy.  His first assignment upon graduation was on patrol in District Four.  He has also served in the Central Vice Control Section and in the Communications Section.  Since 2004 he has been assigned to District Four, where his supervisors note that he is always willing to assist younger officers, and that he frequently attends community meetings and has developed an impressive knowledge of his beat.  Sergeant Lawson is a resident of Woodlawn.

Police Specialist Kenneth Byrne is a graduate of Oak Hills High School.  He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at Xavier University.  Specialist Byrne had law enforcement experience prior to his service with the Cincinnati Police Department:  He worked for the Hamilton County Adult Probation Department for six years.  In August 2002 he entered the Police Academy’s 93rd Recruit Class, and, upon graduation in February 2003, he was assigned to patrol in District Five.  In 2006 he was transferred to District Five’s Violent Crimes Squad, where he serves as an investigator.  His supervisors observe that he is a fine officer who leads by example and has the respect of his peers.