Cincinnati City Manager Criticized for Neglecting Police Chief Oversight

Taxpayers foot $50,000 bill for outsourced review after 3-year lapse

Apr. 2, 2026 at 3:51pm

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According to a recent report, Cincinnati City Manager Sheryl Long failed to conduct performance reviews of Police Chief Teresa Theetge for three years, instead outsourcing the responsibility to a law firm at a cost of $50,000 to taxpayers. This leadership failure has raised concerns about Long's competence, despite her $320,000 annual salary and positive recent evaluation from the City Council.

Why it matters

The city manager's neglect of basic oversight duties for the police chief position raises questions about accountability and transparency in Cincinnati's city government. Residents have limited input or data to assess the city manager's overall performance, even as she maintains a high salary.

The details

City Manager Sheryl Long was responsible for conducting performance reviews and providing feedback to Police Chief Teresa Theetge, but did not do so for three years. Instead, Long outsourced that responsibility to a law firm at a cost of at least $50,000 to taxpayers.

  • According to the Enquirer's reporting, the fate of Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge now rests with the city manager.
  • City Manager Sheryl Long was responsible for conducting performance reviews and providing feedback to the chief, but did not for three years.

The players

Sheryl Long

The Cincinnati City Manager, who earns an annual salary of $320,000.

Teresa Theetge

The Cincinnati Police Chief whose performance reviews were neglected by the city manager for three years.

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What’s next

The Cincinnati City Council will likely review the city manager's performance and oversight failures in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for greater accountability and transparency in Cincinnati's city government, particularly around the performance of top officials like the city manager who oversee critical public services like the police department.