Residents, advocacy groups press Akron council for police use-of-force review as council appoints oversight board members

During a meeting of the Akron City Council, residents and local advocacy groups urged the council to push for an independent review of the Akron Police Department’s use-of-force policy and voiced frustrations with the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP). Council members voted to appoint new members to the city’s police oversight board and approved several committee recommendations related to oversight.

The public comment period featured multiple speakers describing police violence and racial disparities in enforcement. “Support the review. What was the review tells us that African American men and boys are treated more hardship than white men and boys? And that is something we wanna know and try to do something about,” said a speaker at the podium during public comment. Tasha Mills, who identified herself as the founder of Healing Mothers, described losing her son to gun violence and said she stands “with the Fred Hampton gun club” and families who have lost children; she urged the council and the mayor’s office to address conduct by the FOP and by Akron police.

Jennifer Boswell, co-leader of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America for Summit and Stark Counties, urged formal reform and supported legislation to commission a review. “The office of the independent police auditor, the mayor, and the council president have referenced the need for this review many times. I stand in support of the legislation authorizing a request for proposal for a comprehensive review of the Akron Police Department use of force policy,” Boswell said.

Several speakers used strong language to express frustration with police and police-affiliated organizations. Lillian Barnes told the council she was “pissed” and criticized calls to silence protesters; she concluded her three-minute public comment with a vulgarity that was recorded in the meeting transcript.

Council members responded to the comments and to one another about how to balance speakers’ First Amendment rights with the council’s interest in clear, audible public testimony. Councilman Jeff Fusco said he had “respectfully requested during the time of public comment that that no protesting would be going on” so those at the podium could be heard. Council President Margo Somerville reiterated guidance she said she had received from the law department, stating that “those who stand at that podium, they can use their 3 minutes to say whatever it is that they wish to speak because of amendment rights.” Council members expressed differing views on whether additional policy on conduct should be pursued.

On formal business related to civilian oversight, councilmembers approved committee recommendations and suspended rules to confirm candidates to the police oversight board. The council announced three individuals who will join the board: Christopher Weems, Pastor Dwayne Scribe and Juanita Elton; the presiding officer acknowledged their presence in the chamber after the votes.

The public comments and the council’s remarks underscored continuing local debate over police accountability, transparency and how the council should handle public protest during meetings. No new, council-initiated ordinance to change use-of-force policy was introduced at this meeting; speakers and Boswell urged the council to proceed with a formal request for proposals to review department policy.

Looking ahead, council members asked the administration and relevant offices to continue work on oversight and transparency. No specific timeline for an RFP or an independent review was provided during the meeting.