Cincinnati Police Chief Terri Theetge has been relieved of her duties following accusations of insubordination, poor leadership, and a lawsuit alleging systemic discrimination against white male officers.

Leadership Change and Concerns

City Manager Sheryl Long formally initiated the leadership change, citing a breakdown in effective departmental management and a lack of adherence to established city priorities. The decision comes after escalating tension between Long and Theetge, particularly regarding the implementation of the city’s Summer Safety Plan.

Disagreements Over Public Safety Plan

Long detailed instances where Theetge opposed the Summer Safety Plan and failed to utilize available resources, including mandated overtime, to address staffing shortages. Despite authority to authorize overtime and funding offered by Mayor Aftab Pureval to combat rising crime rates, Theetge allegedly declined to do so.

Refusal of External Assistance

Furthermore, Theetge reportedly refused assistance from external law enforcement agencies, such as the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, hindering efforts to maximize police coverage.

Discrimination Lawsuit

The removal of Chief Theetge also coincides with a lawsuit filed by four high-ranking officers – Captain Robert Wilson and Lieutenants Patrick Caton, Gerald Hodges, and Andrew Mitchell – alleging systemic discrimination within the Cincinnati Police Department.

Allegations of Bias

The lawsuit names both the city and Theetge, accusing them of intentional discriminatory practices favoring women and minorities in assignments, hiring, and promotions. The officers claim they were consistently overlooked for positions despite qualifications, with opportunities given to less-qualified minority and female lieutenants.

Impact on Morale

The lawsuit suggests a pattern of discrimination creating a hostile work environment and undermining merit-based principles within the department.

Incident and Response Concerns

A separate incident involving a couple allegedly assaulted by a group of young Black individuals raised questions about Theetge’s handling of sensitive cases. Victim Holly reported a delayed police response of 15-20 minutes and a lack of basic information gathering or medical assistance from officers.

Prioritizing Personal Events

Long’s communication also highlighted concerns about Theetge prioritizing attendance at a play over preparing the assistant chief for a public safety town hall meeting. Long expressed frustration over having to “beg” Theetge to implement basic safety measures.

The combination of these factors – accusations of insubordination, the discrimination lawsuit, and concerns over incident response – led to Theetge’s removal. The city now faces the challenge of restoring trust and addressing the underlying issues that contributed to this situation.