CINCINNATI — Mayor Aftab Pureval said he "fully" supports City Manager Sheryl Long's decision to dismiss Police Chief Teresa Theetge, who was officially let go Thursday, months after she was first placed on administrative leave.
While speaking with reporters, the mayor specifically noted the chief was "not collaborative (and not) proactive" when addressing ongoing violence in downtown Cincinnati in the summer of 2025.
Pureval said that though it was important to him to support Theetge both publicly and privately during her tenure, he said he grew "frustrated" as he witnessed Theetge claim she supported city plans while not fulfilling the plan.
Specifically, he said Theetge refused to fill downtown details and dragged her feet to get things going despite his offering to double the money for overtime.
"We expect results, we expect collaboration, we expect clear communication and we need the right people in those roles," Pureval said.
Watch the mayor's full briefing here:
Pureval also backed Long's claim that Theetge told the city several times she was open to resigning, but once that process began, she changed her mind. Specifically, Pureval said Theetge demanded $7.5 million.
"We need the right people in the job, and $7.5 million is a nonstarter," Pureval said.
In her release, Long recognized Theetge's 35 years of service but said "it's become clear that a change in leadership is necessary for the department moving forward," following a third-party investigation into Theetge, released in late March, that said she had "not been an effective leader."
Watch Long answer reporter questions following the announcement:
Long held a brief press conference Thursday morning, after the announcement was made, where she said she decided a change in leadership for the Cincinnati Police Department was necessary.
"This decision is not about whether crime remains a challenge in our city," Long said when asked about crime rates not changing in the months since Theetge was put on leave. "Public safety is a complex issue for every major growing city. The decisions were based on the findings of an internal review and whether leadership met the expectations required for the position."
Long said she stands by the amount of time it's taken to come to the decision to dismiss Theetge, adding that it was a difficult decision.
In response to the announcement, Stephen Imm with Finney Law Firm, which has represented Theetge throughout her leave, called Long's reasons for dismissing Theetge "phony."
"Today is a sad day for the City of Cincinnati," Imm wrote. "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."
Finney Law Firm is also currently representing former Cincinnati Fire Chief Michael Washington, who was fired by Long in 2023. Washington is currently suing the city over his termination.
Watch: What's next after Teresa Theetge's dismissal
Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police President Ken Kober released a statement following the news, calling the decision to dismiss Theetge a poor one.
"This is the latest example of a poor decision made by the city manager that is likely going to cost the taxpayers millions," Kober wrote. "I look forward to seeing Chief Theetge fight this unjust termination."
Kober previously said he was one of the 32 people interviewed by Frost Brown Todd for the independent investigation into Theetge. He told us he was surprised the report released by the law firm contained no positive assessments of Theetge.
"There was nothing good said about her," Kober said in March. "I can tell you myself, I said things that were very complimentary. It's troubling that it wasn't a complete report. It was only things people perceived as bad about her."
Last week, the city contracted employment law firm Jackson Lewis P.C. following a pre-disciplinary hearing between the city manager's office and Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge, who has been on paid administrative leave since October.
Theetge's attorney said city officials did not say much during her pre-disciplinary hearing at City Hall last week. Attorney Stephen Imm said they instead listened to Theetge as she responded to the allegations in the independent investigation done by Frost Brown Todd.
After the hearing, Theetge described the feelings and support she has received in the last several months.
"I can't go anywhere in this region without somebody stopping me and saying, 'I've been treated badly by the city,'" Theetge told reporters Friday afternoon in her first public comments since being placed on leave. "I've been in Butler County, Warren County, Hamilton County, Northern Kentucky. People stop me everywhere."
Imm told reporters last week he hoped the city would bring Theetge back to work.
“For the city to bring her back at this point, I think, will involve a certain amount of embarrassment for the city. I hope that doesn’t interfere with them doing the right thing at this point," Imm said.
Per her termination letter, Theetge has 10 days to appeal her dismissal. Interim Chief Adam Hennie will remain in command of CPD, but the announcement said the city will provide an update on permanent leadership of the department in the coming weeks.
What did the investigation into Theetge say?
The nine-page report was the result of interviews with 32 witnesses on Theetge's leadership of the department. The firm determined that her "old school approach" led to a "siloing of departments where departments competed for talent, resources and information."
The report stated the majority of witnesses said she "could not return to the CPD and be effective." It also blamed her communication style for creating a "lack of transparency and distrust" in the department.
The report notes that while Theetge ran the administrative side of the department well, she struggled to work with city leaders, attempting to block City Hall from communicating with her command staff and found the department has "a strong culture" of retaliation and a perception of favoritism or nepotism.
Theetge's attorneys have called the decision to place her on leave and investigate her leadership "hasty and unlawful," claiming she was being used as a "political scapegoat and political pawn" ahead of the mayoral and city council election. Imm said at a news conference weeks ahead of the report's release that they expected it to be "a hatchet job."
Her family members called it biased, speculative, and intended to push her out of the job.
Theetge's brother, retired Cincinnati Police Captain Russ Neville, who served in multiple leadership roles over 35 years, said the report bears "no semblance whatsoever to what a true investigative report should look like."
