Kentucky city’s LGBTQ+ police liaison faces mounting scrutiny after 9 lawsuits

Curtis Clemons has lived in Northern Kentucky his entire life.The 36-year-old said he's loved Covington since he was a kid. Growing up 45 minutes away in Williamstown, he looked forward to weekends "in the city" with his family.Clemons, now a resident and a local realtor, said he usually felt safe in Covington when he interacted with local law enforcement until he learned of a police officer in Covington named Doug Ullrich."The interactions I've seen on the news and reported about Officer Ullrich, but also the interactions officers have had on the Roebling Bridge last summer," Clemons said. "There was unjust violence toward citizens on the bridge."Clemons was one of several members of the Covington LGBTQ+ community that spoke with Queer Kentucky who were concerned with Ullrich, the number of lawsuits filed against him and what they see is a lack of action by the city and the Covington Police Department.Ullrich is a training specialist and the department's LGBTQ+ Liaison Officer. On the Covington Police Department website, it describes the LGTBQ+ Liaison Officer mission, "To build communication between the LGBTQ+ community and (the department)," by "developing trust and understanding." Clemons, and other members of the LGTBQ+ Community interviewed by Queer Kentucky, believe the department is failing in that mission.Ullrich made news in early 2025 when dashcam video of his October 2024 arrest of Damien Conner became public. Conner, an LGBTQ+ Black man, was pulled out of his car by Ullrich and another officer after they cut his seat belt. According to the complaint, Ullrich said he smelled marijuana in Conner's vehicle after he began removing him from the vehicle.Conner was held overnight, but wasn't charged when he was released the next morning.In March 2025, he filed a federal lawsuit against the Covington Police Department and Ullrich for violating his civil rights. It's one of nine lawsuits filed in federal court against Ullrich since 2021.Clemons said the lawsuits