CINCINNATI — Lt. Col. Teresa Theetge was announced as the interim chief of the Cincinnati Police Department on Wednesday.
Theetge will serve as the replacement for Chief Eliot Isaac, who will retire on Friday. In 2020 she became the highest ranking female official in the history of the Cincinnati Police Department when she was promoted to executive assistant police chief.
She's now the first woman to be named interim chief.
"I am committed to ensuring your safety and being as inclusive as possible in how we police this city," Theetge said at a press conference. "I will strive to fill the void when (Isaac) leaves."
Theetge said she was committed to the current Cincinnati Collaborative Agreement.
She also said she's ready to get to work first on recruiting, but also looking toward the not-so-distant future.
"One of my priorities right off the back will be preparing for summer," she said. "The data tells us summers are our busiest month for violence, gun violence in particular, so we need to come up with a plan."
The city is interviewing two firms that will conduct a national search for a new chief.
The winning firm is expected to seek input from citizens, the business community and the Fraternal Order of Police during an "extensive period of community engagement" before a new chief is hired. The process could take up to six months.
Isaac will also assist with the process and consult with John Curp, Cincinnati's interim city manager, while they search for a replacement police chief.
"We have very talented homegrown people," Isaac said. "I want citizens of Cincinnati to rest that they are well in hand. The principles and work we've done will continue in the interim and will continue in the future."
Isaac, a Cincinnati native, was first hired by the Cincinnati Police Department in 1988. Prior to his tenure as chief, he has worked in the Criminal Investigations Section, administration, the Internal Investigations Section and was the commander of District 4.
City officials appointed Isaac as the interim chief during the summer of 2015 after firing former Chief Jeffrey Blackwell.
WATCH: Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot Isaac reflects on his career with CPD
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