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Akron Mayor Addresses Police Use of Force Concerns

Staff Report / Akronlocal.org

During a recent press conference, the Mayor of Akron addressed concerns related to the police auditor's recommendations following an incident in January involving the use of force by an Akron Police Department (APD) officer against Ms. Dierra Fields.

The initial investigation conducted by APD's Office of Professional Standards and Accountability concluded that the officer's use of force did not violate policy and was deemed objectively reasonable. However, the Independent Police Auditor’s office and the Civilian Police Oversight Board disagreed with this assessment and made several recommendations, including a reevaluation of the use of force policy.

Following these recommendations, Chief Harding and APD internal affairs conducted a second review of the incident. They upheld the original determination that the use of force complied with departmental policy and was objectively reasonable, which the administration stated would guide any disciplinary actions.

The Mayor acknowledged the community's concerns regarding the use of force, emphasizing the importance of reviewing the department’s use of force policy to promote effective policing and reduce negative outcomes. The Mayor invited the public to view additional information shared in graphics and to watch the full comments from the press conference available online.

Source: City of Akron, Ohio - Mayor's Office | Akron OH | Facebook

Source Type: Gov

Source Location: Akron

Oct 17, 2024 at 12:52 PM

Gov