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Thomas Streicher
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“The very essence of policing is derived from honesty. If and when you make a mistake, you must be truthful about it.”
Cincinnati Police Chief Thomas Streicher Jr. uttered those words in March 2002, after an internal investigation concluded that an officer lied about the events that caused him to shoot and kill an unarmed black man during a foot chase. At the time Streicher said he would´ve recommended the officer be fired if he hadn´t already quit to avoid discipline.
Flash-forward to summer 2002: Lt. Col. Ron Twitty, an assistant police chief and the city´s highest-ranking African-American officer, was suspended by Streicher for allegedly filing a false report about an overnight hit¯and-run accident involving a city-issued vehicle, causing $3,300 in damage. Streicher believed Twitty had a fender bender and tried to cover up the incident.
During the Twitty probe, Streicher issued a department-wide memo that stated dishonesty “cannot and will not be tolerated in our organization.” Lying would be a quick route to a recommendation for dismissal, he added.
Ultimately, a deal was struck to have Twitty -- who many thought would be Cincinnati´s next police chief -- retire early instead of face criminal charges.
Now come revelations that Streicher assigned 10 police officers and several horses and motorcycles to add to the pomp and circumstance for his aunt´s funeral. Confronted by The Enquirer, Streicher initially denied Dec. 14 that any officers worked the events. After meeting with the city manager, Streicher sent the city a personal check Dec. 18 to cover the $1,767 cost for the perks; it was dated one day after the newspaper´s inquiry.
It´s an open secret at City Hall that Streicher lives in a lavish home he built in Green Township, despite restrictions requiring department heads to live within city limits. CityBeat has talked to contractors who worked on the home, and they report the chief laughed about how he also owns a duplex in Price Hill to circumvent the rule but rarely stays there. Efforts to contact Streicher for comment were unsuccessful.
Of course, some city council members questioned whether Streicher was insubordinate last month when they learned he hadn´t spent all of the $2.7 million allocated for walking patrols -- but did spend money to renovate his personal office.
Officials have to decide when enough is enough.
Since Streicher became police chief in 1999, the department has suffered due to his lapses of judgment. They include ignoring a work slowdown by some officers and exhibiting the behavior of an unruly teenager when criticized.
Among the highlights, Streicher provoked public outrage after saying other police chiefs nationwide “laugh” when residents here complain about crime and the time a federal judge scolded him for blocking access to a court-appointed monitoring team.
There are more examples but the pattern should be clear to any detective: Streicher harms police morale and community relations. Maybe it´s time for a transfer.
Porkopolis TIP LINES: 513-665-4700 (ext. 147) or pork@citybeat.com
