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Residents and watchdogs press Cincinnati leaders over police chief replacement and hiring practices
Summary
Multiple public commenters at Cincinnati City Council criticized the handling of a recent police chief replacement, alleged cronyism involving unelected advisor Iris Rowley and her son's hiring, and urged alternatives to curfew arrests for youth.
Public speakers at Cincinnati City Council’s public-comment period on Thursday criticized city leaders’ handling of a recent police-chief transition and raised concerns about hiring practices and curfew enforcement.
Several residents directly faulted city leadership for the handling of recent public-safety incidents and personnel decisions. "Why does she have all this power in the city? She is unelected and she's against the police," said Rondy Pullins, who also alleged that "she hired her son for over $50,000 for a part time job, which is outrageous." Pullins urged the council to take stronger action on downtown crime and judicial appointments he said were letting suspects go.
Other commenters echoed skepticism about how the chief’s departure was managed. "Y'all need to stop doing these same tactics," said Stefan Pryor, who accused council members of "scapegoating" and said he expected financial settlements when chiefs leave office. Derek Blassingame, who introduced himself as "the government watchdog," defended the departing chief as having "done an exceptional job" and urged a review of the city manager’s handling of contracts tied to Iris Rowley.
Speakers also raised related public-safety concerns. One commenter warned against detaining and charging minors for curfew violations, citing research that incarceration increases the likelihood of rearrest. "Incarceration harms kids' physical and mental health and places great barriers towards their succeeding," the speaker said, arguing that addressing homelessness and food insecurity would be a more effective approach.
The public-comment period included a range of other issues—residents recounted personal assaults at Fountain Square, questioned billing practices by Greater Cincinnati Water Works, urged expansion of surveillance cameras for identification and called for divestment tied to U.S. foreign-policy concerns—but the police-chief and hiring controversy drew multiple speakers across the session.
The council moved on to its business agenda after closing public comments at 2:05 p.m.; many of the subsequent items were routine grants and emergency ordinances that passed unanimously.
