CINCINNATI — The City of Cincinnati fired a police officer caught on her body camera using a racial slur while on duty and in uniform.
What You Need To Know
- Officer Rose Valentino used a racial slur on duty in April
- It happened following a traffic incident where a teenager reportedly gave her the middle finger
- Valentino, a 14-year veteran of the force, had her police powers suspended by the city during the disciplinary phase
- The FOP has the right to appeal the decision
An internal investigation determined Officer Rose Valentino used the racial slur April 5 after a verbal altercation with a group of people during a traffic situation. Interim Police Chief Teresa Theetge signed off the investigation in late July pending a mandatory disciplinary hearing.
Theetge recommended the firing of Valentino to the City Manager’s Office, the City said in a statement Monday night. The statement said the City Manager’s Office agreed with the decision.
In the City's statement, Theetge said she had to consider a variety of factors before making her recommendation. Most importantly, she said, was taking action to ensure the community didn't lose trust in the Cincinnati Police Department.
“Valentino’s clear loss of her emotions and ready use of the racial slur tarnished her ability to do her job effectively," Theetge said.
The news of the incident came to light in late July after Theetge signed off on the internal investigation.
The incident report from the city showed Valentino, a 14-year veteran of the force, noticed several vehicles lining the street waiting to pick up students at Western Hills University High School on Cincinnati’s west side. To get the drivers to move, Valentino turned on the lights and siren on her police vehicle, the review noted. But investigators wrote in the review that when the drivers didn’t move, Valentino became “increasingly angry.”
Turning on the sirens activated the officer's body camera and vehicle camera, according to a CPD spokesperson.
A Black teenager, described as roughly 16 years old, then walked by Valentino’s vehicle and gave her the middle finger, the report reads. Valentino told investigators that “infuriated” her.
In response, Valentino went on a vulgar tirade. “F****** dumb! Oooh, I f****** hate them so much. F*** God! I hate this f****** world. I hate it,” she’s heard on camera saying as she rolled up the window on her police vehicle.
Then, under her breath, Valentino muttered, “F****** (N-words), I f****** hate them,” as she punched the steering wheel, per the report.
She turned off her body cam shortly thereafter, per the report.
The city suspended Valentino’s police powers, pending a disciplinary hearing, interim City Manager John Curp said in a statement at the time. “Officer Valentino will not be on city streets in uniform, wearing a badge, or carrying a firearm,” he added.
In its release on Monday, the city said the Fraternal Order of Police, which represents police officers on disciplinary matters, can file a grievance. Generally, the statement reads, disciplinary grievances revolve around whether an employer had “just cause” in taking any “particular corrective action.”
Per the FOP contract, a grievance is presented at Step 1 to the chief of police and at Step 2 to the director of human resources.
”However, in this case, due to the level of discipline, it may proceed past Steps 1 and 2,” the city said. At Step 3, disciplinary grievances must go to mediation prior to arbitration. If there’s still no compromise, the grievance may proceed to a panel of three neutral arbitrators selected from the American Arbitration Association for an unsigned decision. That decision would be binding on both parties, the city said.
The city’s administrative regulation related to non-discrimination, which covers things like hate speech and harassment, mandates a minimum 40-hour suspension and specialized training for a first violation of the policy. A second offense would lead to dismissal.
The local chapter of the FOP, Lodge 69, hasn’t yet responded to a request for comment.