Akron residents press council on policing, use-of-force settlements and union conduct
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Summary
Public commenters and council members pressed Akron leadership over police practices, recent settlements and union conduct, while the mayor and council cited falling use-of-force counts and increased community engagement; no formal policy change was adopted at the meeting.
Public comment at an Akron City Council meeting focused on policing, accountability and the conduct of the police union, with residents calling for clearer responses from city leadership and sharper limits on routine police armament.
Several speakers urged action. Ayesha Williams said residents were “tired of being patient with the leadership that refuses to stand up for what is right,” criticizing what she called “a culture where accountability is delayed” and saying community outrage has been treated as “an inconvenience.” Derek Stone and other community speakers framed calls for accountability alongside broader requests for investment in community services.
Multiple commenters and at least one council member raised specific complaints about the police union. Autumn Bridal alleged the Akron Fraternal Order of Police president, Brian Lucey, had recorded protesters and posted video on an FOP Akron Facebook page despite requests to remove it, a practice she said “sows fear, division and discord.” That allegation went unchallenged at the meeting; council discussion focused on policies and investigations rather than on a disciplinary outcome announced at the session.
A public commenter who identified himself as Larry Seeley cited a recent settlement in a use-of-force case involving Diarra Fields, saying the city paid $47,500. Seeley argued officers responsible for excessive force should be removed. Councilman Garrett and others said the city must do more to address the impact of force on victims and their children.
Mayor Malik and Councilman Fusco defended recent department actions and presented multi-year policing statistics to show modest improvements. Fusco cited data showing reductions in complaints and uses of force across the past three years and highlighted expanded community engagement efforts — for example, “park and walk” events jumped from about 1,700 in 2023 to over 6,500 most recently — and said use-of-force incidents fell by roughly 8% year-over-year. Fusco also said total shootings fell from 2,501 in 2023 to 1,710 in 2025 and that shootings into habitations were lower in 2024 than 2023.
Council members repeatedly distinguished discussion from formal action. No ordinance or policy restricting equipment or prescribing personnel changes was adopted at this meeting. Councilman Garrett and other members called for a formal investigation into alleged leaks and harassment tied to the union president and asked the law department and the mayor to follow up.
The meeting ended with councilmembers urging continued focus on procedural improvements, faster response processes for resident complaints (noting one family’s sewer issue took more than two years to resolve), and further attention to policing data and community-based interventions.
The council did not vote on a policing-specific ordinance at this session; members said they will continue discussion in committee and via follow-up staff work.
