Akron has faced challenging times with police-involved shootings and use-of-force incidents prompting demands for policy changes.
Despite constant scrutiny, our police department continues to protect citizens while being outgunned by those with illegal firearms. In 2024, Akron confiscated over 950 illegal guns, with firearm-related offenses at 451 (compared to 586 in 2023). Calls related to shootings totaled 1,614 this year (compared to 2,310 in 2023), highlighting the alarming proliferation of illegal firearms.
We have been committed to improving our community by taking steps to promote transparency, including purchasing body-worn cameras in December 2014, banning chokeholds in June 2020, and passing a law in 2021 to release body cam footage within a week of officer-involved shootings. In 2022, an ordinance was passed to create a police oversight board, which voters approved in November. In April 2024, vehicle pursuit for equipment violations was discontinued…