Cincinnati Police Chief Terri Theetge has been placed on paid administrative leave amid a growing public safety crisis in the city—and a rising chorus of criticism over how leadership has handled it. The move, announced by City Manager Sheryl Long, is officially tied to an “internal investigation on the effectiveness of her leadership,” but the timing is anything but coincidental.
Theetge made headlines—and sparked a social media firestorm—just days ago when she told local TV that people in downtown Cincinnati need to “learn how to behave” following a double shooting in Fountain Square. That clip, which was picked up and shared by Vice President J.D. Vance’s half-brother (who is currently running for mayor), touched off a broader conversation about crime, accountability, and who exactly bears the burden for keeping the peace.
Cincinnati Police Chief Theetge’s message after two shooting victims in Fountain Square on Monday night: “Learn how to behave in our city.”
No. City Hall needs to learn how to manage our city. pic.twitter.com/Jd4a7YXDhv
— Cory Bowman (@corymbowman) October 14, 2025
Now, Theetge is on the sidelines. Whether that’s because of public optics, internal politics, or actual command failures remains to be seen. What is clear is that Cincinnati’s leadership vacuum at the top of its police force comes at a time when the city can least afford it.
The background matters here. This isn’t an isolated case of poor messaging. Back in July, a viral video showed a violent mob attack on two White individuals after the city’s jazz festival. Rather than unite around justice or public safety, local leaders and media figures seemed more interested in downplaying the incident. Some even insinuated that the victims bore responsibility—an appalling take, amplified by segments of the press and echoed by at least one city council member.
Stop putting people like this in charge of police departments. It’s embarrassing. https://t.co/YeEdqOzjOt
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) October 14, 2025
Chief Theetge’s response at the time? Criticism of social media and a vague appeal to “context.” Those words landed poorly with a public that had just witnessed what looked like a raw, unprovoked assault.
Now, after the recent Fountain Square shooting and her “learn how to behave” soundbite, it appears the city had enough. Her 30-year career with the department—and her status as the first woman to lead it—weren’t enough to shield her from the fallout. Assistant Chief Adam Hennie has been named interim chief, tasked with restoring stability as the city attempts to get a handle on rising violence and eroding public trust.
She’s talking to violent criminals like she’s a disappointed middle school assistant principal lecturing unruly 12 year olds https://t.co/7CQndOh71C
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) October 14, 2025
Cincinnati’s public safety issues have become impossible to ignore, and it’s no longer just a local concern. With national voices chiming in and political figures already leveraging the chaos as campaign fodder, the fallout from Theetge’s suspension could have ripple effects far beyond Fountain Square.
