Residents urge Akron council to demand FOP remove video, call for apology from councilman over comments

Two residents who spoke during Akron City Council's public comment period urged action after social media posts and comments by Fraternal Order of Police leadership and a council member they said were hurtful and escalatory.

Jessica Riddle, a resident who addressed the council, said that while waiting to enter the previous meeting her sister was struck by a door and that she saw FOP President Brian Lucey laugh; Riddle said Mr. Lucey later posted video of protesters and did not remove it after requests. "He recorded us and put us on the Facebook page of the FOP of Akron. We called, asked for him to take it down. He didn't. So now, we're targeted," Riddle said. Riddle described ongoing harassment and said she had recordings she had not posted publicly.

Acacia Reynolds told council members she wanted a public apology from Councilman Lombardo for comments she described as "morally and racially insensitive" during a safety meeting. Reynolds said the Fraternal Order of Police leadership is "sowing the seeds of discord" by denying officer misconduct and that the FOP message inaccurately suggested protesters condoned violence. "A public apology is the least you can do for the citizens you offended so easily without care," Reynolds said.

Both speakers asked for remedial steps: removal of social content and accountability from the FOP and elected officials. The speakers characterized the problem as part of broader concerns over policing and community trust; no formal motion or council action to address the requests was recorded during the meeting.

Council did not take a formal vote or announce staff follow-up in response to the public comments during the session.