City manager announces dismissal of Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge
By Emily Sanderson
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CINCINNATI (WLWT) — Teresa Theetge is out as Cincinnati’s police chief.
City Manager Sheryl Long made the announcement Thursday that she has dismissed Police Chief Teresa Theetge from City service, effective immediately.
City manager announces dismissal The decision came weeks after an independent firm’s monthslong review found Theetge to be “not to be an effective leader.”
“I recognize Chief Theetge’s more than 35 years of service to the Cincinnati Police Department and to this City. At the same time, after completing this review, it’s become clear that a change in leadership is necessary for the department moving forward,” said Long.
Theetge’s attorney responds Theetge’s attorney Stephen Imm released a statement following the dismissal announcement, calling today a “sad day for the City of Cincinnati.”
“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. We will get justice for Terri Theetge, and those responsible for this disgusting act will be held accountable,” Imm said.
Dismissal comes after review findings The nine page review released at the beginning of the month from the firm FBT Gibbons summarizes the findings of the independent investigation, categorizing it by the chief’s effectiveness as a leader, communication style, ability to work with larger city government, culture of retaliation, ability to communicate, ability to take accountability and effectiveness in driving positive culture.
Theetge was at city hall earlier this month for a pre-disciplinary hearing with Long, following the release of the review. It was her first visit since she was placed on administrative leave nearly six months ago.
Long said after the review, she concluded that a change in leadership is necessary for the department moving forward.
“The decision was a hard decision to make,” Long said.
City manager answers questions from media When asked why she made the decision after the independent review when Theetge hadn’t had a prior review for years before that.
“This is not about 7 years. Different concerns rose at different times. Once there was enough information to warrant a formal review, the city acted. My focus today is on the decision for us, and what we need on the department moving forward,” Long said.
Theetge is the city’s first female police chief, sworn in on Jan. 9, 2023.
Long did not speak on rumors a settlement being offered, but said she gave Theetge a chance to step down before she was placed on leave.
Following the release of the review, Theetge’s attorney, Stephen Imm, said the review is filled with falsehoods.
“We didn’t start this fight, but by God we’re going to finish it,” Theetge said following the review.
Theetge had been on leave since October.
Cincinnati mayor answers questions Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval says he “fully supports” the city manager’s decision to terminate police chief Teresa Theetge.
“Not collaborative, not proactive, did not put in place the procedures and strategies to be an effective leader,” Pureval said of Theetge.
Pureval answered questions from the media on Theetge’s dismissal, saying a lack of communication and collaboration over the past year led to the decision.
“I was eager, desperate, for support last year, particularly around our public safety plan,” Pureval said, saying Theetge would say she supported the plan in public, but in private would “refuse to fulfill these details…or she was dragging her feet.”
Pureval said since Theetge was placed on leave and an interim chief, Adam Hennie, has been in charge, the relationships with the sheriff’s department, state police and Cincinnati Public Schools are much stronger.
“I have been frustrated without the summer of last year, that I communicated to her and the administration that we had to deal with the perception of crime. The best way to do that was walking patrols, bike patrols, more visibility in general. I was willing to double the amount of overtime. In my opinion, she disagreed that that perception should be a priority, and she never fully staffed those kinds of details and those kind of patrols,” Pureval said
In what was perhaps the most surprising thing to come out of the presser, Pureval shared that the chief communicated on several occasions that she was willing to step down in a process where she’d resign, but then said she changed her mind and demanded $7.5 million.
“The answer was no. That’s a non-starter,” Pureval said.
Search for new chief The city named Adam Hennie as interim police chief after Theetge was placed on leave.
On Thursday, Long said Hennie remains in command as the city will provide an update on permanent leadership of the department in the coming weeks.
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