Writer: Ryan Gandolfo
2 min read March 2023 — On Friday, Cincinnati’s fire chief was terminated by Cincinnati City Manager Sheryl Long, citing an unwelcoming workplace culture towards women.
Long submitted a memorandum to the mayor and members of the city council, stating that Chief Michael Washington “has proven to be an ineffective leader who is unwilling to take ownership for his decisions. During his tenure, multiple women have come forward with concerns about the workplace environment and how they are treated in the Cincinnati Fire Department.”
Long also noted: “I want to be clear that I do not tolerate discriminatory, hostile, or unfair working environments in any City department. Cincinnatians place their trust in the Fire Department, which is tasked with keeping all of us safe. If the workplace culture within the department is unhealthy, that’s a violation of the community’s trust.”
Assistant Fire Chief Steven Breitfelder will serve as Interim Fire Chief until a permanent replacement is appointed, effective immediately. The city manager’s office will hire a third-party firm to carry out a national search for the fire department’s next chief.
The Cincinnati Fire Department is the nation’s oldest fully paid professional fire department. Founded in 1853, the CFD operates 26 fire stations throughout the city, according to the city government website. Last month, the CFD graduated 52 recruits following four months of training. The ceremony was attended by Long, Mayor Aftab Pureval and Washington.
Long, who was named as the new city manager in September 2022 by unanimous vote, is the youngest female City Manager and second Black female to fill the role. “It’s rare to have a woman rise to this level of influence in city government, and even more rare for it to be a woman of color,” she said after being voted into office.
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