CINCINNATI — A heated dispute is unfolding in Cincinnati over a potential legal settlement tied to an officer-involved shooting.
The Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police claims City Manager Sheryl Long is negotiating a settlement — possibly worth millions — with the family of Rodney Hinton Jr., the man charged with killing Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deputy Larry Henderson.
“This is an absolute outrage—crime literally pays in Cincinnati under this City Manager,” Cincinnati FOP President Ken Kober said in a letter. “Sheryl Long is sneaking around behind closed doors, trying to shove taxpayers’ hard-earned money at the family of a cold-blooded cop-killer who deliberately mowed down Deputy Henderson just days after his son pointed a gun at one of our officers. It’s a slap in the face to every law enforcement officer risking their lives, a betrayal of the public trust, and a disgusting message that targeting cops has no consequences. This shady, underhanded deal must be stopped.”
The proposed settlement stems from a fatal May 2025 police shooting involving Hinton’s 18-year-old son, a case prosecutors previously ruled was legally justified.
The FOP said any payout would be an insult to law enforcement and taxpayers, especially as the city faces budget pressure and possible tax increases.
Long strongly disputed those claims, saying no settlement has been finalized, and rejected accusations that discussions happened in secret or without the city council’s knowledge.
She called the allegations reckless and said they only deepen divisions within the community.
Spectrum News Staff, Cody Thompson
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