Cincinnati officials fired Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge April 23, about a month after the city released a report concluding she “has not been an effective leader.”
City Manager Sheryl Long, in an eight-minute press conference on Monday, said she earlier gave Theetge an opportunity to resign, something she said the chief had asked for prior to being placed on paid leave in October.
“She said she wanted that professional courtesy so that she could walk away with her head held high,” Long said. “I provided her that professional courtesy. Chief Theetge changed her mind.”
Dismissal comes after five-month investigation
Theetge had remained on paid leave since October during the city’s investigation, still getting her $203,000 annual salary.
FBT Gibbons, a law firm contracted by the city for up to $49,000, crafted the report after a five-month investigation into Theetge’s leadership.
The city then in March contracted with another law firm, employment law firm Jackson Lewis, for up to $50,000. That was for advice on how to proceed with Theetge’s employment.
Long said she made the decision to fire Theetge.
“My responsibility as city manager is to make sure I have the right people in the right seats to guide me through that,” Long said. “And that’s why I stand by this decision.”
Theetge’s attorney vows to ‘get justice’
Theetge’s attorney Steve Imm vowed to “get justice for Terri Theetge.”
“Today is a sad day for the city of Cincinnati,” Imm said in a statement. “Its leaders have taken the shameful step of dismissing one of its most accomplished and beloved public servants for no legitimate reason. They know their phony excuses for this disgraceful action are entirely false, but still chose to put this black mark on our great city.”
FOP president Ken Kober called Theetge’s firing ‘unjust.’
“This is the latest example of a poor decision made by the city manager that is likely going to cost the taxpayers millions,” Kober said. “I look forward to seeing Chief Theetge fight this unjust termination.”
Why was Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theege fired?
Cincinnati leaders and Theetge have faced criticism this summer as crime spiked in the city’s urban core. A double shooting on Oct. 13 on Fountain Square again pushed the city into trending posts on social media. Mayor Aftab Pureval declined to give a straight “yes” or “no” in response to questions following the shooting about whether he had confidence in Theetge.
The investigation report released on March 31 determined Theetge could not return to the police department “and be effective.” It also called her approach to leadership “old school” and “rigid and authoritarian.”
Theetge’s departure comes after a dramatic exit spurred by a series of high-profile crimes that drew national attention, including the killing of Patrick Heringer and a fight in Downtown that went viral.
The chief was scrutinized in the wake of a shooting in the heart of Downtown on Fountain Square. City Manager Sheryl Long asked her to resign in October and Theetge refused, setting off a city investigation into the effectiveness of her leadership.
Theetge’s attorney has repeatedly slammed the investigation and city’s decision to place Theetge on leave as making her a political scapegoat.
The firing ended a historic 30-year career with the Cincinnati Police Department that culminated in 2023 with her becoming the city’s first female police chief.
5 Cincinnati police chiefs since 1999
For the early 21st century, Tom Streicher ran the department, retiring after 12 years in 2011. Since then, the city has had four chiefs in 15 years. James Craig came on in 2011 but stayed less than two years, becoming police chief in Detroit. Chief Jeffrey Blackwell was next and was ousted within two years.
In 2015, the city again hired a chief from within the department. Police Chief Eliot Isaac’s tenure lasted over six years until his retirement. Isaac now leads the University of Cincinnati Police Department.
Who is Teresa Theetge?
Theetge had a long career at the Cincinnati Police Department before becoming chief and comes from generations of law enforcement.
She was sworn in as the Queen City’s 16th police chief in January 2023, becoming the first woman to lead the Cincinnati Police Department, per her bio on the city’s website.
Theetge also served as interim police chief for nearly a year before taking on the role permanently. Her bio states that she was the first woman to be appointed to the interim police chief position full-time.
Under her leadership, she successfully lobbied the city for additional funds and support for the recruitment and retention of police officers. More recently, she launched a “drones as first responders” program, which is one of the first in the region.
This story will be updated.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati fires police chief Theetge; lawyers calls move ‘shameful’
Reporting by Scott Wartman, Cameron Knight, David Ferrara and Matthew Cupelli, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
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