Union leaders representing the Cincinnati Police Department have firmly expressed their disapproval of the city’s mayor, partly due to the aftermath of a widely publicized incident on July 26 that captured national attention.
“This evening, the Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 69 cast a unanimous vote of no confidence in Mayor Aftab Pureval, pointing to several leadership shortcomings in recent weeks that have jeopardized public safety, disrupted police efforts, and eroded community trust,” stated the FOP in a declaration released Monday night, as reported by Fox News Digital.
FOP President Ken Kober decried what the organization feels is a lack of support from the mayor’s office in the release.
Mayor Aftab Pureval arrives at a press conference about early Saturday morning’s viral beatdown in downtown Cincinnati. (Fox News Digital )
The police union further claimed that Aftab neglected to properly denounce city contractor Iris Roley, who was charged with meddling in another police investigation earlier this month, as reported by WLWT.
Seven alleged attackers have been charged in connection with the violent assault.
Six individuals, Patrick Rosemond, 38, Jermaine Mathews, 39, Montanez Merriweather, 34, DeKyra Vernon, 24, Dominique Kittle, 37, and Aisha Devaughn, 25, each face charges of three counts of alleged felonious assault, three counts of assault, and two counts of aggravated rioting.
A seventh individual implicated in the incident, Gregory Wright, 32, faces charges of alleged aggravated rioting and aggravated robbery after reportedly stealing a chain from a victim during the altercation.
Additionally, Merriweather has been federally charged with being a felon in possession of a gun, while Mathews faces federal charges for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and for managing a premises used for drug trafficking.
Pureval’s office did not immediately return a comment request.
