Report on Cincinnati Police Chief Raises Transparency Concerns

Lack of evidence and contradictions in investigation summary undermine public trust, says opinion columnist.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 1:50pm

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An opinion piece criticizes the recently released "investigation summary" on Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge, arguing that the report reads more like a "carefully curated narrative" than a fact-finding document. The author notes the report's lack of identified witnesses, documented incidents, timelines, or exhibits, and questions how Theetge could go from being the city manager's "signature achievement" to being portrayed as "fundamentally unfit" without a clear explanation. The columnist suggests the report's conclusions may not withstand legal scrutiny and argues the city is seeking to remove a 35-year veteran without following proper performance review and improvement processes.

Why it matters

This case highlights concerns about transparency and accountability in public institutions, particularly when it comes to evaluating the performance of high-ranking officials. The author argues the report undermines public trust by offering sweeping judgments without evidence, burying positive findings, and failing to reconcile its conclusions with the city's own previous hiring decision.

The details

The opinion piece criticizes the "investigation summary" on Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge, noting that it reads more like a "carefully curated narrative" than a fact-finding document. The report lacks identified witnesses, documented incidents, timelines, or exhibits, raising questions about the credibility of the claims. The author points out that the report's only positive finding - that Theetge ran the administrative side of the department well - is buried, while the rest of the document builds toward a predetermined conclusion to justify her removal. The columnist also questions why Theetge, who was hired as a "signature achievement" of the current city manager, is now being portrayed as "fundamentally unfit" without a clear explanation. The author suggests the report may not survive legal scrutiny, as Theetge's attorney has already indicated they are prepared to file for wrongful termination.

  • The report took six months to prepare and was recently released.
  • Theetge told investigators she had not received a formal performance appraisal in seven years and was unaware of any issues with her performance.

The players

Teresa Theetge

The Cincinnati Police Chief who is the subject of the investigation summary.

Sheryl Long

The Cincinnati City Manager who hired Theetge as one of her first actions in office in 2022.

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What they’re saying

“The report asks the public to accept a storyline that is not credible on its face.”

— Dennis Doyle, Opinion Columnist

“Theetge told investigators she had not received a formal performance appraisal in seven years and was unaware of any issues with her performance.”

— Dennis Doyle, Opinion Columnist

What’s next

Theetge's attorney has indicated they are prepared to file for wrongful termination, which could lead to further legal proceedings and scrutiny of the investigation process.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in public institutions, particularly when it comes to evaluating the performance of high-ranking officials. The lack of evidence and contradictions in the investigation summary have undermined public trust, and the city must ensure that any personnel decisions are based on a fair, documented, and unbiased process.