CINCINNATI — After nearly nine months without a police chief, Cincinnati City Manager Sheryl Long selected Cincinnati interim chief Teresa Theetge for the permanent role.
What You Need To Know
- Cincinnati Police Department's new chief is Teresa Theetge
- Theetge was one of four candidates for the position
- She has over 30 years of experience with Cincinnati Police Department
- She is replacing former chief Elliot Isaac, who retired in March of 2022
Theetge started her new role as chief Tuesday, according to the Cincinnati Police Department. Collaborative Agreement consultant Iris Roley said it was a great decision.
“It is about the work and it is about the level of experience, knowledge, know-how, been through the force and all those things ... it is an exciting day for Cincinnati,” said Roley. “First female chief in the city and in the history of Cincinnati Police.”
Roley and Long worked together on the search. A survey was sent out asking the community what they wanted to see in their next police chief. Roley said the community feedback was valuable.
“What we were doing was already embedded in the process. And we're grateful that the now city manager heard us and had those community forums and allowed for communities to weigh in,” she said.
Theetge was one of four candidates for the position. She has worked in the Cincinnati Police Department for more than 30 years. Now, as police chief, Roley said she wants to see Theetge address issues like racial disparity and would like to see more people of color hired onto the force.
“The force should represent the population of people based on the census that looks like the city of Cincinnati,” she said.
Chief Theetge issued a written statement Wednesday, saying it is her responsibility to hold the department accountable and be mindful of its past mistakes.
"We’ve all fought so hard to build a strong relationship between the community and police and this will remain at the forefront of our agenda," she said in her statement. "I understand the power of partnerships and how we can’t move forward without community collaboration."
As the Collaborative Agreement consultant, Roley will meet with the chief on a regular basis to talk about issues and concerns she hopes will get addressed in the city.
“I have a standing meeting with the now chief,” she said. “We worked together through the summer doing all of those trainings, her 30 by 30, increasing women on the force. Some of the things that are exciting to us as a community.”
An event to celebrate Theetge in her new role is expected to happen next week.