Public Safety committee hears debate on proposed outside use-of-force review; mayor asks for continued dialogue, no vote taken

The Public Safety Committee of the Akron City Council spent an extended session discussing an ordinance that would authorize the mayor to enter into a contract or contracts with outside consultants to conduct a comprehensive review of police use-of-force policy, practices and community engagement. The administration presented a frequently asked questions document and asked for further dialogue; no final vote was taken at the committee meeting.

The ordinance read into the agenda described authorization "to enter into a contract or contracts without publicly advertising for bids with Paul, Weiss, Rifkin, Wharton, Garrison LLP for the provision of comprehensive use of force community engagement assessment for the Akron Police Department, declaring an emergency." The mayor's office and administration representatives outlined the scope as a deep dive into use-of-force policy, broader community interactions, and community perceptions of safety.

Tony Ingram, public safety strategist, described the review as an opportunity to assess policy against best practices and to engage the community using a procedural-justice model. "It is really a way for community to be heard," Ingram said, framing the effort…