Cincinnati Police Chief Accused of Discrimination in Lawsuit

Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Tegge is facing a lawsuit from four senior officers who allege that she discriminated against Baichu Li by implementing a “racial-based quota system” for promotions.

This legal action, initiated in May, has gained attention recently, especially as Tegge deals with scrutiny due to her department’s investigation into a brutal street assault on a white woman in Ohio City.

In the lawsuit, Captain Robert Wilson, along with Li, Patrick Cuton, Gerald Hodges, and Andrew Mitchell, assert that they were unjustly overlooked for positions they believe they were qualified for. Instead, they claim that Tegge prioritized promotions for minorities and women, as reported.

The lawsuit suggests that significant professional and financial benefits are disproportionately awarded to non-white and female executives, often sidelining merit and the legitimate needs of the department.

Moreover, the officers argue that Tegge is directly involved in promotion decisions and utilized this quota system to favor certain groups, which they assert undermines equality within the force. Interestingly, they note that in 2023, a notable majority of 79% of minorities and 89% of women rejected “priority appointments,” whereas only 44% of white officers were affected by these changes.

The officers are seeking compensatory and punitive damages as well as injunctive relief in the ongoing case, which names both Tegge and the City of Cincinnati as defendants.

This situation puts Tegge in a difficult position as she navigates another controversy, linked to a recent violent altercation being investigated by the police. Critics have voiced concerns about the perceived lack of urgency in making arrests. For instance, Vice President JD Vance, a former Ohio Senator, commented on the need for swifter action against criminals, insisting that officers must take stronger measures to combat lawlessness in cities.

In a related incident, a Russian woman, referred to as “Holly,” became a victim of a brutal attack, which elicited audible shock from bystanders. When a man attempted to assist her, he too faced violence. During this chaotic scene, remarkably, only one individual called emergency services.

Authorities have arrested Dominique Kittle, 37, in connection with the attack, nearly a week after it occurred. Three other suspects were apprehended last week, while two individuals, whose names have not been disclosed, are still being pursued by law enforcement.