The complaint, filed on May 19, accuses the department of engaging in “intentional and discriminatory practices” based on race and gender.

The plaintiffs—Captain Robert Wilson and Lieutenants Patrick Caton, Gerald Hodges, and Andrew Mitchell—claim they suffered professional setbacks, reputational harm, and emotional distress due to what they describe as preferential treatment given to women and minority officers.

The lawsuit, reviewed by The Cincinnati Enquirer, specifically alleges that the department made promotional and assignment decisions that favored women and minorities “to the exclusion of White men.”

“The city and Chief Theetge have actively and systemically undertaken efforts to promote, advance, and make promotion and assignment decisions that are preferable to women and minorities, and to the exclusion of White men,” the lawsuit states.

The officers allege they were denied access to preferred assignments, which often come with better benefits and are considered essential for career advancement within the department.

Since Theetge took over as chief, the plaintiffs allege the department has used a race-based quota system for promotions, particularly for elevating individuals to the rank of lieutenant.

The Cincinnati Police Department declined to respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.

According to the lawsuit, the four officers are seeking compensatory damages, including lost wages and benefits.

They are also requesting damages for emotional distress and are pursuing a jury trial.

Additionally, they are asking the court to issue an order that would prohibit the department from engaging in any further discriminatory practices.

Attorney Zack Gottesman, who is representing the officers, told local outlet WXIX that this lawsuit is part of a broader pattern of alleged discriminatory practices by the city and its police leadership.

“These cases collectively demonstrate a pattern of systemic discrimination by the City of Cincinnati against white individuals, particularly white male officers, in promotions, assignments, and workplace treatment,” Gottesman said.

“The City’s continued reliance on race- and sex-based policies, despite judicial rulings and evidence of remedied past discrimination, perpetuates an environment of unfair treatment and violates constitutional protections.”

The lawsuit comes after a series of recent legal actions involving the Cincinnati Police Department.

In early 2025, the city paid a $95,000 settlement to a white officer who had filed a discrimination claim over allegedly derogatory comments made by her supervisor and colleagues.

In a 2021 ruling, a federal judge barred the department from using race- or sex-based quotas in its hiring and promotion processes.

Chief Teresa Theetge has been at the center of public scrutiny following a high-profile violent incident in downtown Cincinnati.

In the early morning hours of a recent Saturday, a brawl broke out on the streets, and video of the assault circulated widely on social media.

The footage appeared to show a group of individuals attacking a man, followed by a female bystander being knocked unconscious.

At a press conference on Monday, Chief Theetge addressed the viral footage and criticized the way it was shared and covered.

“Social media, the posts that we’ve seen, does not depict the entire incident. That is one version of what occurred. At times, social media and mainstream media and their commentaries are misrepresentations of the circumstances surrounding any given event,” she said.

“What that does, that causes us some difficulty in thoroughly investigating the activity and enforcing the law. Because what happens, that social media post and your coverage of it distorts the content of what actually happened and it makes our job more difficult.”

Theetge confirmed that five suspects have been charged in connection with the incident and that additional charges are expected.

The lawsuit filed by the four officers is ongoing, and no court date has yet been set.