Officers urge North College Hill council to make interim chief permanent

Two officers from the North College Hill Police Department urged the city council on April 6 to make Acting Chief Cheney the department’s permanent chief.

Officer T.J. Johnson read a letter to the council praising Cheney’s leadership during an extended acting period and asking elected officials to “take into consideration the perspective of those within the department” who Johnson said support the promotion. Officer Sean Watson, a U.S. Marine and University of Cincinnati instructor, told council “more than 75% of the officers in our department are supportive of the chief being promoted to a full-time chief” and warned that prolonged interim leadership creates uncertainty and undermines morale.

The two public commenters framed their appeal around operational stability. Watson recommended that, if the council appoints the chief permanently, it pair the appointment with “clear performance expectations” such as recruitment, retention, training and measurable benchmarks so the chief can be held accountable.

The remarks came during public comment and did not include a formal motion by council to appoint the chief at this meeting. Council members acknowledged the comments and asked procedural questions, but there was no vote or formal action to change the chief’s status on April 6. A later agenda item moved the body into executive session under Ohio Revised Code §121.22(G)(1) to discuss personnel matters; council voted to enter that session with the city administrator and mayor invited to attend.

What happens next: The officers’ request was heard publicly; any personnel decision, including an appointment, would follow the city’s internal process and any applicable collective bargaining rules before a final council action is taken.