Discipline Over Raised Voice Raises Controversy

Cincinnati Police Chief Tom Streicher wants to reprimand Assistant Chief Richard Janke.

"I disagree with the Chief's assessment of conduct. I was asserting a point that was important for the community and the police department," said Cincinnati Assistant Chief Richard Janke.

Lieutenant Colonel Janke is one of five assistant chiefs for the Cincinnati Police Department.

On Thursday Cincinnati Police Chief Tom Streicher wrote a letter to the city manager, stating Lt. Col. Janke unnecessarily raised his voice when he disagreed with another assistant chief during a recent meeting.

Chief Streicher is recommending Janke be reprimanded and moved to a new unit that will limit his interaction with peers and subordinates.

Kathy Harrell, president of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) strongly disagrees with Chief Streicher's recommendation.

"The chief wants to hold his assistant chiefs to this standard and his supervisors to this certain standard. Well, I can tell you that the Chief doesn't hold himself to that standard,” said Harrell.

“I have seen the Chief, I have been myself on the opposite end of the Chief's heated discussions with me,” said Harrell. “He's used profanity at me. I just think that if you're going to hold them to a certain standard, you then yourself should be held to that same standard."

In Chief Streicher's letter to the city manager, he expresses this is not an isolated incident for Janke. He says Janke has a lack of ability to work with his peers in a civil, orderly and courteous manner.

Janke says the situation doesn't affect just him.

"I have to apologize for anything that embarrasses my friends and family. That's what bothers you the most in this situation," Janke said.

Janke says Chief Streicher has stripped him of his take-home car and told him he will be receiving a written reprimand.

Harrell feels Chief Streicher is not handling the situation correctly.

"It appears it's an attempt for personal embarrassment," Harrell said.

Janke says he plans to appeal the chief's reprimand, but for now he'll continue doing his day-to-day job.
"I come to work and I'm still going to do the best job I can do," Janke said.

Chief Streicher was unavailable for comment Thursday night, but a police spokesperson says he is expected to speak Friday.