Akron's Police Chief, Brian Harding, is facing growing calls for his resignation or firing from community activists and organizations in light of recent controversy over his handling of police conduct. The group Freedom BLOC, along with the Akron NAACP, have vehemently opposed Harding's actions following a questionable police encounter that resulted in a body slam of Dierra Fields, an Akron resident.
Independent Police Auditor Anthony Finnell examined the incident, which resulted in a report that criticized the officers' actions and called for disciplinary action recommendations that Harding rejected. In a response that's struck a nerve with local communities, Eric Garrett, an At-Large Akron City Councilmember, said, "Chief Harding's decision to dismiss these findings underscores a disregard for accountability, a profoundly troubling stance for many of us in the community," according to Cleveland19.
Activist group Freedom BLOC's Executive Director, Ray Greene Jr., has highlighted a failure in the system of accountability and is pushing for Harding’s immediate termination, "His failure to act is a significant flaw in the system of accountability and we demand his immediate termination to protect Akron's most vulnerable citizens," Ideastream Public Media reports. This sentiment is echoed by attorney Imokhai Okolo, who represented Fields, and suggests that the current leadership is progressively out of step with community demands for justice and accountability.
The calls for Harding's dismissal also come alongside demands for a federal pattern-or-practice investigation into the Akron Police Department. In statements obtained by Signal Akron, Greene, Okolo, and Akron NAACP President Judi Hill expressed concerns about systemic issues and urged the Department of Justice and local officials to take action. "Mayor Malik and Chief Harding have turned a deaf ear to the cries of the community, dismissing the very reforms that Akron so desperately needs," Greene noted.
