Cincinnati Police Chief has ‘no intention’ of resigning, attorney says
By Emily Sanderson, Danielle Dindak
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CINCINNATI (WLWT) — Cincinnati Police Chief Terri Theetge has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation into the “effectiveness of her leadership.”
Stephen Imm, with the Finney Law Firm representing Theetge, states she has “no intention” of resigning.
“There is no justification for this action,” Imm said during a press conference Tuesday, stating Theetge was placed on leave on her 35th anniversary of her joining CPD.
Imm states Theetge was asked to resign late last week, but has no intention of resigning and they are working to get her back to work.
“She is a dedicated public servant, this is in her blood, her DNA, she wants nothing more than to be a servant,” Imm stated.
Imm claims Theetge is being used as a “political scapegoat” saying the city has not claimed to have a cause for removal.
Imm claims Theetge has brought forth several ideas to combat crime, including engaging with county judges on low bonds, but said the mayor would not move forward with that proposal.
When it comes to next steps, Imm states they are considering all options.
Imm states removal, he believes, would be a violation of constitutional rights.
“The chief’s sincere hope is the city will rethink this hasty and unlawful decision and reinstate her to her position promptly,” Imm said.
When asked what Theetge is doing since being placed on leave, Imm said right now, she is simply on leave and still absorbing what has happened in the last 24 hours.
Imm said when she was advised late Monday afternoon, she packed up some personal items and left City Hall. He said he was the one to deliver the news to Theetge.
Cincinnati City Manager Sheryl Long, who placed Theetge on leave, states the move comes “pending an internal investigation on the effectiveness of her leadership in the Cincinnati Police Department.”
Assistant Chief Adam Hennie has been named interim chief.
“The City continues to face serious public safety challenges that underscore the need for stability at the command level. Therefore, I’ve named Assistant Chief Adam Hennie as Interim Police Chief. Our focus remains on maintaining stability within the department and ensuring the highest standards of service to our residents. I have full confidence in Interim Chief Hennie and the department’s command staff to continue their dedicated work at this time,” said City Manager Sheryl Long.
Shortly after Imm’s press conference began on Tuesday, Long released another statement thanking Theetge’s service to the department and looking forward to the leadership Hennie will provide as interim.
“We respect Chief Theetge’s decades of service to the City of Cincinnati. Public safety is this Administration’s top priority and we are responsible for delivering on that for the public,” Long’s statement begins. “The City remains committed to a fair and transparent process that protects both the department and the people we serve. Interim Chief Hennie’s strong operational experience and steady leadership will help ensure stability as we complete this investigation.”
Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval also shared a new statement Tuesday, saying, “I am grateful for Chief Theetge’s decades of service. I have full confidence in Interim Chief Hennie, and City Manager Long and I had the opportunity to meet with him and his Assistant Chiefs this morning.”
Pureval stated that during their meeting with Hennie, they talked about his plans for “greater use of technology, visibility, and rapid response to critical incidents – on top of spearheading the recommendations from the climate assessment.”
“At this moment and moving forward, our focus remains on keeping Cincinnatians safe,” Pureval said.
Imm also represents former Cincinnati Fire Chief Michael Washington. City Manager Sheryl Long fired him in March of 2024 because of concerns over workplace culture. Since then, the city has been slapped with a lawsuit. That case is making its way through federal court.
Up until last Wednesday, Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval expressed full confidence in Theetge, but he later stated that due to ongoing violence, “all options are on the table.”
Imm stated Tuesday he believes the directive for Theetge’s leave came from the mayor.
The mayor responded to that claim, stating, “No, I did not direct this. This is an administrative issue and it’s the City Manager’s decision.”
Theetge is the first woman to lead the Cincinnati Police Department and has been on the force for more than 30 years. The future of her position lies in the hands of the city manager.
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