CINCINNATI -- It's a coin that has brought tears to eyes of some of the toughest people around. And now, after a police officer was shot, its legend continues to grow.
Officer Kenneth Grubbs was shot Sunday while responding to a domestic violence call in Walnut Hills. He was released from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center Tuesday. Before he left, he received a special gift from a retired police officer who was staying in the room next door.
Paul Vogelpohl, a nearly-30-year veteran of the force, has been in the hospital for several weeks with pancreatic cancer. When Grubbs was placed in the next room after the shooting, Vogelpohl had an honor in mind for the injured officer.
"He goes, 'I want to give Ken my Living Legends coin. He deserves it more than I do,'" Eric Vogelpohl recalled his father saying.
Vogelpohl is one of the officers and civilians who can call themselves " 1132 Living Legends." It all started nearly 30 years ago in the old 1132 bar, when three officers planned what was supposed to be a small gathering to honor three of their own.
"Fifty guys showed up," fellow Living Legend Robert Morgan said. "With that, the Legends was born."
Morgan was the fourth officer to get the honor. It's the one he's most proud of in his career.
"When the chips are down, you're there. And cops know that," he said. "When cops understand that, you're special to them."
A few years ago, a coin was given to all the members. There's more than 120 of them.
"I had tears in my eyes the night they honored me, and I'm sure most of the guys feel the same way," he said.
So Paul Vogelpohl presented Grubbs with the coin, minting a new legen to be passed down through the years.
"With Paul Vogelpohl making that gesture with Grubbs, we now have two Legends," Morgan said.
