CINCINNATI — City Manager Sheryl Long announced Tuesday she selected Interim Chief Lt. Teresa Theetge to become the next chief for the Cincinnati Police Department.
Theetge was appointed as interim police chief following the retirement of Chief Elliot K. Isaac in Feb. 2022. She is the first female to be appointed to the interim police chief position full-time in the history of the city.
Long said Theetge was selected through a transparent recruitment process, took input from interest stakeholders and said she has “full faith” Theetge is the best person for the role.
“During my time at the city, I have worked closely with Chief Theetge, especially over the last few months,” Long wrote in a press release. “I have seen first-hand her deliberate decision-making, her effectiveness in engaging with our citizens, the depth of her knowledge on cutting-edge policing techniques and her prioritization of equity and fairness.”
Theetge has been with the city for more than 30 years. She was promoted to assistant chief in 2016 and in 2020 assumed the role of the executive officer.
“I think it’s great news,” Council member Mark Jeffreys said of the historic hire.
Jeffreys said Theetge impressed him during her 10-month run as interim chief. He voiced a special appreciation for her willingness to partner with City Council, the mayor and community leaders to community projects.
“It’s important that our police chief take a collaborative approach and listen to the community,” he said. “We need somebody who’s empathetic but also accountable, and so I think (Theetge) brings all of those attributes to the job.”
Jeffreys met with Theetge and the other three finalists one-on-one prior to the hire. He also attended one of two community forums where the finalists answered questions from the public.
“(Theetge) has a track record in the department of being respected and of listening to constituents and working with communities to make our streets safer,” he said. “I look forward to more of that going forward.”
She is a lifelong Cincinnati resident and over her career has gained experience in patrol, investigative assignments, inspections’ audits and internal investigations.
During an interview with Spectrum News in Feb. 2022, Theetge credited Isaac with helping prepare her for his old job. In 2016, he promoted Theetge to assistant chief, making her the second woman in the department’s history to hold the rank. Two years ago, Isaac promoted her again, making her executive assistant chief.
At the time of entering her role as interim police chief, she said she would work on bolstering recruitment efforts and reducing the uptick in the city’s gun violence that has been occurring since 2018.
Theetge’s tie to CPD goes even deeper — her father’s two brothers, Theetge’s uncles, were also lieutenants with the department. Four of her seven siblings also chose careers in law enforcement — three of which joined her as part of the Cincinnati Police Department.
Theetge and her husband, Bib, have four adult children and eight grandchildren.
Digital Reporter Casey Weldon contributed to this report.
