Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge is facing pressure from city leaders to resign, according to Ken Kober, president of Cincinnati’s Fraternal Order of Police.
Pureval told reporters Wednesday that the city is “exploring all options” when asked if new police leadership was on the table. Kober confirmed to CityBeat on Thursday that Mayor Aftab Pureval has asked Theetge to resign. Other reports suggest City Manager Sheryl Long has asked Theetge to do the same. On Wednesday, Long asked Theetge to return to the city from a conference in Denver “to address departmental matters,” according to a statement Long released Wednesday evening. In Cincinnati, the city manager is the only city leader with the authority to fire the police chief.
The possible shake-up comes as violent crime in Cincinnati’s downtown neighborhoods continues to draw attention and ire from community members. Incidents include the murder of well-known fitness instructor Patrick Heringer in his Over-the-Rhine home, the viral brawl video captured around Fourth and Elm streets, and two recent shootings around Fountain Square. Arrests have been made or suspects have been identified in connection with all of these incidents, according to police. Overall, 25 people have been shot in OTR this year and 18 people have been shot in Downtown, according to city data.
Theetge and city leaders have announced new policies to address violence in the city’s core, including a city-wide curfew for unaccompanied minors and and more arrests for low-level offenses, but the viral nature of these incidents during an election year has placed pressure on Theetge for immediate results.
Kober told CityBeat that replacing Theetge would be a mistake, suggesting leadership changes elsewhere.
“Replacing the chief is not the answer,” Kober said. “There are three options: Repeal Issue 5 so the Police Chief isn’t under the thumb of an elected official, convince the Mayor to allow the Chief to do her job independently or residents vote for a new mayor. Otherwise we will remain at status quo with violence in this city.”
The Cincinnati FOP voted to endorse Republican Cory Bowman, the half-brother of Vice President JD Vance, for mayor in the 2025 election.
Theetge is the city’s first female police chief.
