The president of the Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), Ken Kober, has thrust serious accusations against City Manager Sheryl Long, claiming that she is involved in under-the-table negotiations for a hefty settlement with the family of Ryan Hinton. Hinton, 18, was fatally shot by police on May 1, 2025, in a related incident to a stolen vehicle report. However, Sheryl Long has denied that any such settlement talks are happening away from the public's eye or city council. "The City has not reached a settlement agreement and I vehemently reject the notion that any discussions are being rushed, are happening in secret, or are designed to keep information from City Council," Long stated, as reported by FOX19.
The allegations by Kober suggest that the settlement with the Hinton family could reach into the millions, causing a rift between local law enforcement and city management. His pointed words come at a volatile time when, the day following the fatal shooting of Ryan Hinton, his father, Rodney Hinton, was accused of the murder of Hamilton County Sheriff's Deputy Larry Henderson. According to an interview with Kober by WLWT, there's been word that the city council is scheduled to learn about a tentative agreement on Monday, but they will not be voting on it.
The backdrop of this dispute is a tangled tragedy, with the younger Hinton being killed following a police pursuit, and his father subsequently accused of murdering in a vengeful act after viewing the body cam footage of his son's fatal encounter. Two days after his son's death, police say Rodney Hinton struck Deputy Larry Henderson with a car, resulting in the deputy's death. Hinton is now facing charges of murder, felonious assault, and two counts of aggravated murder, but will not be facing the death penalty due to a serious mental illness that impairs his judgment, as reported by Local12.
In response to FOP's assertions, Cincinnati City Council member Jeff Cramerding has expressed his dissent regarding any possible settlement, emphasizing no clear wrongdoing by the officer or the city at this point. "There's been no evidence of wrongdoing by the city or the officer at this juncture. So, I think that would send the wrong message to citizens and the police if there was a settlement. I would oppose it," Cramerding articulated, as Local12 obtained. The city manager is set to brief the council on the situation in a private session on Monday, adding another layer to the already complex saga of the Hinton incident.
