Amid calls to dismantle Cincinnati's safety department, the city manager has appointed a longtime city employee who is African American as acting director.

        Assistant Safety Director S. Gregory Baker Tuesday was given the top spot overseeing the city's police and fire divisions, replacing Kent Ryan, who stepped down for health reasons Friday.

        Following the shooting death of Timothy Thomas — the 15th African American to be killed by police since 1995 — several community activists and one city council member said Mr. Ryan needed to be replaced by someone with a diverse background that would bolster police-community relations.

        “I'm aware of tremendous expectations of the African American community,” said Mr. Baker, 47, who is a 20-year city employee. “I want to show leadership and support for the tremendous effort the police and fire (divisions) put forth in the last week.”

        Before becoming assistant safety director in July, Mr. Baker was director of the city's employment and training division.

        He earned a liberal arts degree from Howard University in Washington, D.C., and a master's in city and regional planning from Ohio State University.

        City Manager John Shirey said Friday the job would stay vacant in anticipation of changes to the way the police and fire chiefs are hired. He said Police Chief Tom Streicher would continue as acting safety director.

        But since then, several African Americans have questioned why Mr. Baker wasn't elevated to the job.

        “I wasn't surprised,” Mr. Baker said Tuesday. “After looking at it, the manager did not have a whole lot of choices.”

        In a press release Tuesday, Mr. Shirey said he is still evaluating options for the safety department, including the possibility of creating separate police and fire agencies.

        Mr. Baker said there are several issues he is already juggling: the police division, a mayor who has already begun to act like a strong mayor, the business community, the black community and the police union.

        “I've got to keep this office thinking that we're going to be here,” he said.

        A majority of council members last week said they would be willing to do away with the safety department, calling it an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy separating them from the police division.

        Others, including Mayor Charlie Luken, say the department provides the only civilian review of the police division.

        “I'm here because the city manager asked me to take the position,” he said. “I am the best suited to run the office in the interim until a decision is made, because I've been the No. 2 man in charge.”

        Enquirer reporter Dan Klepal contributed to this report.

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