Cincinnati Sets Hearing for Fired Police Chief
Former Police Chief Teresa Theetge will present her appeal before a hearing officer on November 30, 2026.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Law Enforcement
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The City of Cincinnati has scheduled a post-deprivation hearing for fired Police Chief Teresa Theetge on November 30, 2026. The city fired Theetge in April 2026 after a five-month investigation, and she and her attorney Stephen Imm have appealed the decision.
Why it matters
The hearing will determine whether the firing stands, a decision that affects leadership of the Cincinnati Police Department during a period of concern over crime. Theetge and her attorneys have accused Mayor Aftab Pureval and City Manager Sheryl Long of making her a scapegoat ahead of the November 2025 election, claims that the appeal process will test.
The firing is under formal appeal, with a post-deprivation hearing set before a hearing officer on November 30, 2026. Theetge has not filed suit against the city, and the city has no search underway for a permanent police chief.
The players
Teresa Theetge
Teresa Theetge is the former Cincinnati police chief who was fired by the city in April 2026 and is appealing the decision.
Sheryl Long
Sheryl Long is the Cincinnati city manager who placed Theetge on leave and later fired her.
Aftab Pureval
Aftab Pureval is the mayor of Cincinnati, whom Theetge's side accused of making her a scapegoat ahead of the November 2025 election.
The details
City Manager Sheryl Long placed Theetge on leave in October 2025 and later fired her amid concerns about how police were addressing crime. Theetge and her attorney Stephen Imm requested an impartial decision-maker to decide the appeal.
Timeline
October 2025: Theetge placed on leave and Adam Hennie became interim police chief.
April 2026: City fired Theetge after a five-month investigation.
November 30, 2026: Post-deprivation hearing before a hearing officer.
Season Trajectory
The removal of a police chief during an active leadership vacuum in Cincinnati places the department's crime response under interim direction heading into a new term of city leadership. The appeal's outcome will shape whether the city's approach to police accountability stands or is revised.
Residents of Cincinnati are affected by who leads the police department during an interim period, as the hearing outcome may determine whether a permanent chief is appointed. The city has no search underway for a permanent chief at this time.
The takeaway
Personnel decisions in municipal police departments are subject to formal appeal processes, and the November 30 hearing will test whether the city's stated reasons for the firing hold up. Readers following Cincinnati public safety should watch that hearing for the outcome.
What happens next
Theetge will present her case before a hearing officer on November 30, 2026, when the appeal of her firing will be heard.
Further reading
Explore more Law Enforcement coverage from Cincinnati and across the region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cincinnati.
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