CINCINNATI — An independent investigation into Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge determined that she has "not been an effective leader," a report summary says.
The City of Cincinnati hired Frost Brown Todd in October 2025 to serve as an independent counsel conducting a "review" into Theetge's leadership after she was placed on paid administrative leave.
Frost Brown Todd's report, released Tuesday afternoon, says the firm conducted interviews with Theetge and 32 witnesses to discuss whether she has been an effective leader, committed any policy violations or disregarded best practices to the detriment of public safety.
The firm determined that Theetge's "old school approach" directly led to "a siloing of departments where departments competed for talent, resources and information."
"The majority of all witnesses interviewed indicated that Chief Theetge could not return to the CPD and be effective, and that assessment is supported by the investigation," the report says.
Additionally, the report says Theetge's communication style led to 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.
Under Theetge, the report says CPD has a strong culture of retaliation and a perception of favoritism or nepotism.
While Chief Theetge may not have initially created that culture, nor does she accept that it is her responsibility to correct it," the report says.
The report says "nearly every witness" indicated that Theetge's inner circle was "too small." It also says that Theetge struggles to accept accountability, noting she blamed captains for any lack of communication, blamed the city manager for the mayor and blamed the mayor for the schools and judges.
"Additionally, Chief Theetge misrepresented the hold-up on accepting assistance from the State to others — blaming it on City Hall," the report says.
You can read the entire report summary here:
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.
"They're looking for a scalp, they're looking for a scapegoat," attorney Stephen Imm with Finney Law Firm said.
Imm said in a press conference just weeks ago that the findings of the firm's investigation were coming soon, and they believe it will be "the hatchet job that we expected from the beginning."
"There is no one in the city's leadership who did not regard Terri Theetge as an excellent police chief, and ... when this forthcoming report is scrutinized, and the complete truth is revealed about Terri's leadership, everyone will know that Teresa Theetge was an outstanding chief of police — one in whom the City of Cincinnati can and should be proud," Imm said.
On Tuesday, Imm said Theetge has received the report, along with a notice of a pre-disciplinary hearing before City Manager Sheryl Long.
"These documents are a shameful collection of outright falsehoods about an honorable public servant. What makes it worse is that the City Manager and Mayor know very well that these statements are false, but have chosen to issue them anyway to try and distract attention from their own failures and misjudgments.
"Chief Theetge looks forward to successfully defending herself against these outrageous allegations. In due course, they will be exposed, without exception, as entirely false. There is not a shred of credible evidence to support the City’s actions against her."
In a statement, Long said the city is "committed to a fair, thorough, and legally sound process."
"This report is the result of an independent investigation conducted by outside counsel and has been shared with Chief Theetge," the statement continues. "This remains an ongoing personnel matter and it’s important to allow the process to proceed in the time required to protect the integrity of the review. I will not comment further until a decision is made.”
WATCH: We spoke to Cincinnati FOP President Ken Kober about the investigation
Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police President Ken Kober, who said he was among those 32 people interviewed, told us he was surprised the report contained no positive assessments of Theetge.
"There was nothing good said about her," Kober said. "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."
Kober also raised concerns about the investigation's transparency.
"Everyone was forbidden from recording the interview," Kober said. "The law firm did not record it. They just took notes. It certainly lacks transparency when you're talking about an investigation of this magnitude."
The report also said that Theetge's leadership led to competition between departments for resources and personnel. Kober said that dynamic has existed for decades.
"Different units have competed for talent for the last 26 years I've been here," Kober said. "When you have an officer who excels, every unit is going to want them. That's not necessarily a Chief Theetge problem — it's been in police culture for generations."
Kober also said the report referenced a prior internal survey in which the majority of officers surveyed did not want Theetge appointed chief, but she was hired anyway.
"Either they believed the survey, or they didn't, but they hired her anyway," Kober said. "Now you suddenly have this investigation, and to use it as a reason to remove her — it's contradictory."
Kober said the uncertainty of Theetge's future with the department is taking a toll.
"The men and women of this department deserve to know who's going to be in charge, especially going into what we expect to be a very challenging summer," Kober said. "Whether we like it or hate it, there needs to be finality."
