The city of Akron is ushering in a new era in policing with its recent promotions and structural enhancements to the Akron Police Department. In a move aimed at improving police-community relations and crime prevention, the mayor and police chief have promoted three seasoned officers to leadership roles and established a Community Relations and Crime Prevention subdivision within the department. Captain Agostino Micozzi and Captain Michael Miller have proudly been promoted to Deputy Chiefs, while Lieutenant Erik Wells has ascended to the rank of Captain.
These promotions, announced by Akron Mayor Shammas Malik and Akron Police Chief Brian Harding, also herald the introduction of a fourth Deputy Chief to oversee the newly formed subdivision. The Community Relations and Crime Prevention subdivision is set to include various community-focused units and initiatives meant to enhance communication and trust with Akron's residents. In a departmental reshuffle intended to address the community's needs better, officers will now work more closely in roles that span from school resource officer duties to recruitment and professional standards enforcement. Harding expressed excitement about having a full Deputy Chief team to help carry out the important tasks ahead.
The new deputies bring a wealth of experience to their roles. Micozzi, a 30-year APD veteran, boasts an impressive educational background with degrees in Business Administration and Homeland Security Leadership. He has previously led the department's Administrative Services Bureau, managing functions critical to the operation of the police force. Michael Miller, with over 25 years of service, has a history of receiving community service awards and has built a formidable reputation within the department and the broader community. According to the official news release by the city of Akron, he is currently participating in leadership training and is expected to graduate from Leadership Akron Class 41 in May 2025.
Erik Wells, the new captain, brings 28 years of law enforcement experience and a background with the US Army Reserves, reflecting the diversity of experiences among the promoted officers. Chief Harding stressed that these leaders exemplify hard work and determination, having "earned these promotions" and poised to make significant contributions to Akron's public safety strategy. As for the community relations efforts, Mayor Malik highlighted the importance of the restructuring, stating through the City of Akron, "strengthening trust between residents and our officers is critical, and having a subdivision focused on engagement with the community and preventing crime will assist in that effort."
