A Cincinnati Police Department captain who was fired amid investigations for violating department policies will get her job back, according to Cincinnati’s police union.
A three-person arbitration panel ruled Danita Pettis, who had been with CPD for 25 years, was unjustly fired in December 2024. At the time, the city said Pettis was fired for department violations, including: entering false information into the department’s timekeeping system, resulting in improper overtime earnings; insubordination; interference; and dishonesty.
A pre-disciplinary hearing was held three months later with Cincinnati Fire Chief Frank McKinley. McKinley’s hearing summary results recommended Pettis be suspended without pay for 88 hours, but Theetge recommended City Manager Sheryl Long fire Pettis instead.
“A decision of this magnitude is never taken lightly,” Theetge said after the firing. “However, the importance of maintaining honesty, integrity and accountability among all members of the Cincinnati Police Department cannot be overstated or be compromised by a single member of CPD, let alone a member of our leadership team.”
On Friday, Pettis addressed supporters and press at the FOP headquarters on Central Avenue.
“I’m feeling very happy, extremely elated to finally be vindicated of all of these charges after 13 months,” Pettis said. “I’m very excited to be getting back to work, working for the city of Cincinnati, doing the job that I’ve always loved doing for 27 years.”
Long also released a statement Friday about Pettis’ rehiring, saying her decision to fire her in 2024 was based on Theetge’s recommendation.
“City Administration gives weight to the recommendations of its Department Directors when making any employment decisions,” Long said. “In this case, I relied on the facts from a CPD internal investigation of this incident and the recommendation of the Police Chief about the appropriate discipline. I ultimately supported her determination that the suspension recommendation provided through the internal pre-disciplinary process was insufficient and termination of employment was appropriate.”
Cincinnati FOP President Ken Kober said Pettis’ case is part of a “larger pattern” of city leaders unfairly sidelining CPD officers.
“This case fits a larger pattern where the administration targets employees without cause, shifting blame from its own failures in keeping Cincinnati safe,” Kober said.
Kober has also spoken out against the city’s decision in October to place Theetge on administrative leave pending an internal investigation into the “effectiveness of her leadership.” The decision, said to be a directive from Mayor Aftab Pureval, followed a streak of high-profile crimes across the city’s core.
The arbitration panel has ordered the city to fully reinstate Pettis as captain, with full back pay and benefits. It’s unclear if Pettis plans to pursue any civil action related to her firing.
In 2019, Pettis became the second-ever Black female captain of any CPD district. She has also served as president of the Cincinnati Sentinels, an organization formed in 1968 by a group of African-American officers that represents the interests of minority members of the force and community.