Cincinnati Police Chief Deemed 'Not Effective Leader' in Report

Fate of Chief Teresa Theetge now in hands of city manager after scathing investigation findings.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 12:05am

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An independent investigation has concluded that Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge 'has not been an effective leader' of the department, with the majority of witnesses interviewed stating she could not return and be effective. The report described Theetge's leadership approach as 'old school' and 'rigid and authoritarian.' The city manager now must decide Theetge's fate as police chief.

Why it matters

The investigation's findings come amid growing criticism over the city's handling of crime issues, including a high-profile business owner's murder and viral videos of street violence. Theetge's leadership has been under scrutiny, and the report's conclusions raise questions about the department's direction and public trust in law enforcement.

The details

The five-month investigation by the law firm FBT Gibbons interviewed 32 witnesses and Theetge herself. It concluded that Theetge 'has not been an effective leader' and that her approach was 'old school' and 'rigid and authoritarian.' The report also accused Theetge of not addressing a 'strong culture of retaliation' within the department, though Theetge denied any such incidents.

  • Theetge was placed on paid administrative leave in October 2025.
  • The independent investigation was completed on March 16, 2026.
  • The city released the investigation report on March 31, 2026.

The players

Teresa Theetge

The current police chief of Cincinnati, who has been on paid leave since October 2025 while the investigation into her leadership was conducted.

Sheryl Long

The Cincinnati city manager, who now has the authority to decide Theetge's fate as police chief.

Aftab Pureval

The mayor of Cincinnati, who has deferred comment on the investigation's findings.

Steve Imm

The attorney representing Theetge, who has criticized the investigation's findings as 'a shameful collection of outright falsehoods.'

Adam Hennie

The interim police chief who has led the Cincinnati Police Department in Theetge's absence.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Steve Imm, Attorney for Chief Theetge

What’s next

The city manager, Sheryl Long, has the authority to decide whether to fire Chief Theetge. She has stated the city is committed to a 'fair, thorough, and legally sound process,' but has not indicated a timeline for a decision.

The takeaway

The scathing investigation report on Chief Theetge's leadership has raised serious doubts about her ability to effectively lead the Cincinnati Police Department, further complicating the city's efforts to address rising crime concerns and rebuild public trust in law enforcement.