City manager ‘begged’ fired Cincinnati police chief for more officers on streets as crime soars

Cincinnati’s now-former police chief, once sued by subordinates for alleged discrimination against white male officers, has been fired.

A termination announcement “begged” Teresa Thetge to put more officers on the streets during last year’s crime-ridden summer. He was fired Thursday from his role as the city’s top law enforcement officer after nearly three years on the job. She was a police officer in Cincinnati for 35 years.

City Manager Sherrill Long announced Theetge’s firing.

“I recognize Chief Thetge’s more than 35 years of service to the Cincinnati Police Department and to this city. At the same time, after completing this review, it has become clear that a change in leadership is necessary for the department to move forward,” Long said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

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In a scathing termination letter, Long blamed Thitge for what she saw as ineffective leadership and poor communication, including failing to follow through on a summer anti-violence plan.

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“As just one example, you acknowledged that you did not agree with the city’s summer safety plan, which included increased police coverage in the urban core, and you acknowledged that I asked you to fill out the police work details called for in the summer plan.”

Cincinnati found itself under national scrutiny last August after a viral beatdown in the city’s downtown left a woman with neurological damage.

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In the early morning hours of July 26, a confrontation outside LoVe nightclub, located at the corner of Fourth and Elm Streets in the city’s downtown business district, led to a horrific beatdown captured on video.

The video quickly circulated on social media, sparking outrage as at least two white victims were tackled to the ground by a group of black suspects. Once on the ground, the suspects did not retreat. Instead, they continued to pounce on the victims, one of whom had possibly life-altering brain problems.

Over the next month, seven people were arrested and charged with assault-related offences.

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Long also ripped Thietge for two shootings in the city’s downtown Fountain Square area last October, saying he “failed to provide leadership in response to two shootings” in the area that month.

“You further admitted that on October 14th (the day after the second shooting) you chose to go to the game rather than attend the public safety town hall meeting…” Long wrote in the termination letter, later adding that Theetge “was not required to attend the public safety meeting … the night after the shooting in Fountain Square.”

In May of last year, four white male officers filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Thitge, the city’s first female police chief, saying they were passed over for promotions and preferred assignments because of their race and/or gender.

“Defendants’ intentional and discriminatory practice of preferential job assignment to lieutenants disparately favors non-white men and/or women without legitimate, non-discriminatory justification, thereby denying plaintiffs equal employment opportunities,” the lawsuit says in part.

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“The City and Chief Thetage have actively and systematically attempted to promote promotion and assignment decisions that favor women and minorities, and exclude white males, through recruitment, diversity initiatives, outreach programs, promotion processes, and other steps. Defendant is suspected of being an unusual employer that discriminates against the majority,” the lawsuit also says.

Theetge’s attorney did not return requests for comment. Neither was Mayor Aftab Purewal’s office.

Original article source: City manager ‘begged’ fired Cincinnati police chief for more officers on streets as crime soars