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Residents and council members press for independent police review after multiple incidents and video evidence
Summary
Public commenters and multiple council members urged independent review and stronger accountability for Akron police after recent videos and a community-walk incident; the mayor said the administration will review investigations and announced a hospital-linked violence-intervention program coming Friday.
Public comment at Monday’s Akron City Council meeting focused heavily on police conduct and public safety after recent incidents citywide. Multiple speakers asked council and the administration for independent reviews, better reporting and policy changes.
Tasha Mills formally put the city on notice and requested “a transparent and independent review” of an incident involving the Fred Hampton/Firestone gun club and four Akron police officers, citing constitutional protections and federal legal standards. Mills referenced Terry v. Ohio and Florida v. JL as legal touchstones and said she intends to file a civil-rights complaint with the FBI; she also provided a city report number (2667177).
Jerod McClendon and other public speakers urged accountability after video footage showed an officer striking a citizen in the head; McClendon noted policy changes announced after the state-of-the-city address and asked why officers were allowed to retire rather than face prosecution in some misconduct cases. “Stop playing on our face, sir,” McClendon said, urging the city to pursue remedies that include pension consequences where applicable.
Council members raised public-safety concerns tied to recent shootings in Highland Square and at Lane Field. Councilperson Wilson briefed colleagues on the Highland Square exchange of gunfire (approx. 1:30 a.m.) that left two bystanders shot; she said shooters were not identified and urged continued improvements to district safety and special-improvement-district planning. Several members urged residents to report suspicious activity to tip411 and the Akron PD non-emergency line.
Mayor Mallick said the administration will review the matters “thoroughly” and will share findings with council. He also announced that on Friday the city will publicly launch a hospital-linked violence-intervention program with Cleveland Clinic, Akron General and Summa to help prevent retaliatory violence.
No formal vote or binding action on police policy was taken at the meeting; several council members asked the administration for more reporting and for better interagency coordination going forward.
