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Council members decry union meme mocking colleague; call for professionalism and accountability
Summary
Public commenters and council members criticized a Facebook post from Akron FOP 7 that mocked Councilman Garrett, prompting council debate about police accountability, past alleged misconduct, and the need for professional discourse while the mayor urged focus on substantive policy work.
A public commenter and several council members on Monday evening criticized a social-media post by Akron FOP 7 that mocked Councilman Garrett, calling it unprofessional and harmful to public trust.
William Reynolds told the Akron City Council that an FOP Facebook post portraying Councilman Garrett as a clown and accusing him of “political fishing expeditions” was a poor substitute for substantive engagement. "When an organization in a position of influence resorts to mockery instead of dialogue, it raises serious questions about its commitment to professionalism, accountability, and respect for the democratic process," Reynolds said during the public comment period.
Councilperson Wilson later raised the issue on the council floor, saying the mockery was "unprofessional and odd behavior" and that elected officials should feel uncomfortable when a city union publicly ridicules a colleague.
Councilman Garrett and Councilman Geary pressed the point further, linking the post to broader concerns about accountability in the Akron Police Department. Geary recounted that a lieutenant had "stole tens of thousands of dollars" (as stated in council remarks) and said he had pursued public-records requests seeking clarity. He said the union's post felt like intimidation of a council member doing oversight and that the silence from some quarters was troubling.
Mayor Shammas Malik acknowledged the concern about mockery but also urged colleagues to focus on substantive policy work, noting recent council action on safety and youth programs. "Personal disagreements are...uncomfortable, and we all have a responsibility to do that," Malik said, while also noting First Amendment protections.
Council President Margo Somerville closed discussion by asking for order. No formal motion or disciplinary action regarding the social-media post was recorded during the meeting.
The council meeting record shows the matter was raised as part of council comments after the agenda business concluded; there was no recorded vote or formal direction to staff on the post during the session.
