 Sunday, Jan. 4, 1998, should have been the day Tristate police officers removed the black bands from their badges, the end of a 30-day mourning period for two fallen Cincinnati officers. But the black bands stayed on, this time for rookie Covington Officer Mike Partin.
Partin was trying to help another officer catch a fleeing man on the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge. On the force just 15 months, he drowned in the cold Ohio River after falling from the bridge. He fell into the water wearing a black band across his own silver badge.
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Despite an intensive search that included divers and boats and went on for weeks, the river did not give up Officer Partin's body until May 18, when it was found 9 1/2 miles west of the bridge.Search fails to find officer
What happened- 118k gif
Tristate police suffer another blow
Rookie looked, acted like vet
January 6, 1998
Officer's family grieves at river
Bridge gap has a purpose
Borgman cartoon
Police keep taking risks for our sake Samples column
January 7, 1998
Pro divers added to search
January 8, 1998
Rain slows search for officer
January 9, 1998
Police weary but determined
January 10, 1998
Death, search take toll on chief
January 11, 1998
Partin recalled as a kind officer
Police might re-evaluate search
January 13, 1998
Weather delays hunt for officer
January 14, 1998
Police: Donation calls are fake
January 25, 1998
Hints taunt river searchers
February 4, 1998
Police, family stuck in grief
February 16, 1998
Benefit helps officer's family
March 19, 1998
Lapel pins will honor officer
April 4, 1998
Wife: 'Life is really lonely now'
May 19, 1998
Officer Partin's body recovered
May 20, 1998
Police mobilize for officer's funeral
May 22, 1998
Police grateful to have funeral
May 23, 1998
Officer at last at rest
Jan. 3, 1999
Officer Partin not forgotten