After Cincinnati police chief's firing, protest and concern

CINCINNATI — As talk of no-confidence votes and low police morale swarmed around the Cincinnati police chief in recent weeks, supporters closed ranks. After the city fired Jeffrey Blackwell for management, morale and his travel, that support has turned to protest.

On the steps of City Hall on Wednesday, one protester used a bullhorn to blame the mayor and the media for Blackwell's ouster. Another held a sign that read, "FIRE THE MAYOR."

Blackwell, who received no praise in the memo announcing his firing, was praised by a city councilwoman for pushing to implement the use of body cameras, for helping to lead the city through the Samuel DuBose shooting and for doing a good job in leading policing during Major League Baseball's All-Star Game events.

“Internal conflict is going to happen,” said Councilwoman Yvette Simpson. She suggested some of the city’s criticisms of Blackwell’s actions and statements stemmed from the stress the chief has been feeling.

Others in the protest group included religious leader Bobby Hilton, council member Chris Seelbach and Derek Bauman, an Over-the-Rhine resident and Mason police officer who started the Facebook group, “We’ve Got Blackwell’s Back.”

“Chief Blackwell has undergone systemic political attacks,” said Derek Bauman, a Mason, Ohio, police officer who started the Facebook group, "We've Got Blackwell's Back."

Bauman said the allegations against the ex-chief in the memo issued by City Manager Harry Black are troubling, but it’s important the public’s voice be heard. He said he was disappointed Blackwell was fired in advance of a council meeting Thursday that was to be about Blackwell.

“My position has been from the beginning that if the chief is doing all the things that the mayor’s proxies are accusing him of doing, then fire the man, explain what the reasoning is, then move on,” he said.

The Sentinels president Phill Black said he was shocked as he worked his way through the reports.

“The Sentinels, as you know, came out and rallied behind the chief and gave him our support,” he said about a recent vote of confidence by the black police association.

“The body hasn’t convened since then. That support was still active. Yes, there was grumbling, but that was normal,” he said.

Phill Black said the situation is unfortunate, but promised that his group would “continue to make this the best police department.”

Cecil Thomas, a state senator and former Cincinnati police officer, had been impressed with Blackwell's performance and his efforts to reduce violence, but he made it clear that he's observing the situation from the outside.

“It’s hard to comment on internal stuff because none of us are privy to what’s going on,” said Thomas.

He questioned whether Blackwell knew about the accusations that were stated in the city manager's report before it came out, but also pointed to Harry Black’s claims that he tried to address the issues with the chief.

“You have no way of knowing those things, and that’s an issue that needed to be addressed from within,” he said.

Nonetheless, Thomas said he believes that Blackwell moved in the right direction with his focus on community policing.

“As far as community connections and doing those things that we as a community expected under the Collaborative Agreement, that’s different,” Thomas said. “I think he was doing a pretty decent job of garnering the support of the community.”