During the public comment period several residents addressed policing, petitions, and neighborhood safety.

Ayesha Williams accused city leadership and the police of complicity in lethal outcomes for young people, saying officials have repeatedly failed to pursue meaningful reform. Williams told the council, “You are all complicit,” and urged that the city ‘‘demand justice’’ instead of offering investigations that do not lead to accountability.

Donnie Brooks, founder of the Akron Baseball Project Inc., outlined neighborhood safety concerns in Ward 4, cited 24 murders in 2024 concentrated in Wards 4 and 5, and urged restoring Dan Street to give youth alternatives and to re‑examine officer training and staffing.

Jessica Riddle reported a petition with approximately 1,400 signatures calling for the termination of Davon Files and said she had received little follow‑up from council. She also alleged that Captain Christopher Brown chased petitioners after a prior meeting and asked why the council had not responded to the group’s requests for flat cameras and other follow‑up.

An online commenter identified as Brian asked for transparency about funds reportedly given to local groups that protested in 2023 and 2024, referencing $72,000 in payments and asking why the same caseworker or staffer (Fields) remains assigned to certain cases. He said he had been found not guilty in a jury trial where an officer was alleged to have lied under oath.

None of these public comments were followed by a detailed staff response on the broadcasted record; the council did not take immediate formal action on the petitions or allegations during this meeting.