CINCINNATI (WXIX) - Mayor Aftab Pureval is denying allegations that he put pressure on the city manager to place Police Chief Teresa Theetge on administrative leave two days ago.

Cincinnati’s mayor made his first public comments on Wednesday since the chief was put on administrative leave two days ago.

Denying that he pressured City Manager Sheryl Long to put the chief on leave was not the only thing Mayor Pureval claimed was not true.

“The election has nothing to do with this decision, or any decision we take in this office,” Mayor Pureval said. “Our number one priority continues to be public safety.”

That comment was in response to the statement made by Chief Theetge‘s newly hired attorney, Steve Imm, during a press conference on Tuesday.

Imm, an employment lawyer, said the chief is

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