Akron council files proposed $642,000 use-of-force review after heated public comments and split vote

Akron City Council on Tuesday voted to file a proposed contract to review the Akron Police Department's use-of-force policies after months of public pressure, heated testimony and an extended debate over the price and community engagement.

The filing — the result of a motion for an adverse report — means the ordinance authorizing the contract will be placed on file rather than approved tonight. The measure on the table called for the city to hire an outside firm to conduct a comprehensive review of use-of-force policies and recommend training and policy changes; council members and the mayor repeatedly discussed a price in the neighborhood of $642,000 during the session.

Council members and the mayor framed the issue as a community and public-safety priority, while opponents cited cost and raised questions about procurement and whether cheaper, locally based alternatives had been fully explored.

"Spending nearly a million dollars on redundant studies or providing real resources for safety in our community," said Brian Lucey, president of Akron…