Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge was placed on paid administrative leave on Monday evening. In a shocking press conference on Tuesday morning, her newly-hired lawyer raged on her behalf, claiming the embattled police chief is a scapegoat for a mob fight that shocked America.
The brawl broke out in the downtown area of Cincinnati in in August. During the violent incident, a man and a woman were assaulted by a group of black men. The woman, known only as “Holly,” was hit in the face by a man and has been left with brain trauma.
At the time, Theetge said the viral incident, which brought her crime-ridden city to the top of the news cycle around the world, involved about 100 people, and that six people were subjected to “unimaginable physical violence.” She also chastised the media for reporting on the incident without context, though no context was available.
Attorney Stephen Imm said Theetge is a scapegoat for the riot.
On Tuesday, Imm stood in beside a steely Theetge to talk to the press. Cincinnati.com reports:
At a news conference in his law firm’s Downtown office, he was flanked by Theetge, her husband and two of her brothers. A day earlier, City Manager Sheryl Long placed Theetge on paid administrative leave and announced an internal investigation on the effectiveness of her leadership. Long named Assistant Chief Adam Hennie as the interim chief.
Imm took aim at Long and Mayor Aftab Pureval.
“Chief Theetge stands before you today accused of no wrongdoing and having done nothing to deserve this action,” Imm said.
“She is a dedicated public servant. This is in her blood, in her DNA. She wants nothing more than to be a public servant and to lead the law enforcement division of the City of Cincinnati,” Imm said.
Theetge’s attorney said that they are not negotiating an exit but a way to get her back to work.
“Late yesterday she learned she was being placed on leave, there was no justification for this action,” Imm said. “She’s done nothing to deserve being removed from her position.
“The unfortunate conclusion we have to reach from these facts is that she’s being used as a political scapegoat and a political pawn. Terry deserves better than this.
“There is no one better qualified or better equipped than Terry Theetge to confront crime in the city of Cincinnati right now.
“Her experience, talent, ability and expertise are needed more than ever. The loss of her leadership at this critical time is a blow to this city. It has made us less safe.”
“They are looking for a scalp,” Imm said. “They’re looking for a scapegoat.”
Although Imm claimed that Cincinnati police are backing Theetge, she was sued earlier this year for allegedly preventing the promotions of some police officers because they are white men.
City Manager Long announced the suspension. Long appointed Assistant Chief Adam Hennie as interim police chief.
“The City continues to face serious public safety challenges that underscore the need for stability at the command level,” Long said. “Our focus remains on maintaining stability within the department and ensuring the highest standards of service to our residents.”
Long thanked Theetge for her service, writing, “We respect Chief Theetge’s decades of service to the City of Cincinnati. Public safety is this Administration’s top priority and we are responsible for delivering on that for the public.”
“The City remains committed to a fair and transparent process that protects both the department and the people we serve,” Long wrote.
“Interim Chief Hennie’s strong operational experience and steady leadership will help ensure stability as we complete this investigation,” Long added.
Mayor Aftab Pureval said, ”I fully support City Manager Long’s decision. I’m confident that the Interim Chief, our entire police force and our administration will continue to put the safety of our residents above everything else.”
Seven people were ultimately indicted for the riot. They face three counts each of felonious assault and assault, and two counts of aggravated riot.
