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 as a chance to bridge divides between police and residents and to learn how fairness in process affects outcomes.

The Police Chief (name not specified) voiced support for the review as an educational and community-engagement opportunity: "This is not an indictment against the police department," the chief said, calling for implementation of best practices that emerge from the review and noting that the work would include listening sessions involving the police auditor's office and the union.

Mayor (name not specified) described recent use-of-force incidents, including two fatal cases in the prior year, and said the city has not previously conducted a focused, deep-dive report specifically on use of force. The mayor said the review was complementary to prior work (including a 2021 Council Reimagining Public Safety report and other analyses) and emphasized that the administration is "fully committed to implementing" recommendations where feasible.

Council members pressed the administration on several points. Councilman Hannah asked whether the department would accept recommendations if criminal investigations or a grand jury found officers not at fault; Hannah also argued for outreach to young Black males. The mayor responded that criminal and grand jury processes will proceed independently, and that the deep-dive review is intended to examine whether existing policy reflects community expectations.

Councilman Lombardo urged caution about unintended personnel impacts and supplied turnover statistics he said were troubling: he enumerated retirements and resignations from 2020 through 2024 (counts provided in his remarks). Lombardo warned that increased scrutiny can contribute to departures from the department.

Council President Zumberto (as recorded) and others raised procurement transparency concerns: several council members asked why formal proposals were not solicited from a broader set of consultants, naming the Department of Justice COPS office, Jensen Hughes, Spencer Fambi, and Marcia Thompson as entities the administration had contacted or considered. The mayor and Tony Ingram said they had researched multiple entities, had conversations to gather information, and identified a team they believe has relevant experience; they also said timelines and immediacy affected selection and that some individuals (including Marcia Thompson) are currently in academia and may not be able to meet an immediate timeline.

Cost was a recurring concern. A council member referenced an approximate figure of $768,000 that he had seen or discussed; the administration said it would provide additional comparative cost information to the council in the coming week. Council members also discussed the interplay between any recommended policy changes and the police union contract; the administration said some policy or rule changes could be implemented without contract changes, but others could require bargaining.

Several council members and the mayor emphasized that the goal is a multi-year community effort, not a one-off study, with an intention to prioritize implementation where possible. The mayor asked for additional time and follow-up information and did not request a vote at the committee meeting; the chair signaled an intent to continue the item and indicated the administration hopes to bring a vote at the next scheduled council meeting.

No formal committee vote on the ordinance occurred at this meeting. Committee members and administration staff agreed to continue the dialogue, and the administration committed to delivering additional information about vendor selection and comparative costs.