The City of Akron has been grappling with the aftermath of a police shooting that claimed the life of 15-year-old Jazmir Tucker. Mayor Shammas Malik and Police Chief Brian Harding have released statements in response to the incident last Thursday. With the body-worn camera footage now public, questions are mounting about the officers' actions. According to the City of Akron press release, Malik expressed that the loss was "heartbreaking" and acknowledged the importance of transparency and scrutiny in deadly force incidents.
Despite the release of several videos from the officer's body cameras, there is contention that the two responding officers did not initially activate their cameras. They were only turned on due to a system feature triggered by a nearby police cruiser. This revelation has prompted an internal investigation to determine if this violated policy. Mayor Malik specified in his statement, "An officer’s decision to use deadly force is the most consequential decision they can make and the circumstances surrounding the use of deadly force demand a heightened scrutiny." He emphasized the community's need for answers, particularly regarding the type of weapon used by the officers and the delay in rendering aid to Tucker, according to the city's press release.
Mayor Malik supports the idea of a comprehensive review of Akron’s use of force policy and practices, which he believes is critical for ensuring effective and accountable policing in our community. Not shying away from the hard conversations, the mayor expressed, "I think anytime we have young people carrying weapons, we have to ask ourselves why and we have to work to change that." In his statement, per the city's press release, Malik confirmed that planning for this review will be detailed further in the coming week, aiming for systemic change. Chief Harding echoed this sentiment, supporting the mayor's vision and emphasizing that both the department and officers would be involved in this process to address the community's concerns.
