The City of Akron is taking proactive steps in reforming their use of force protocols with an announcement made by Mayor Shammas Malik regarding a collaboration with the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). The organization is set to conduct a comprehensive review of the Akron Police Department's (APD) use of force policies, participate in public engagement, and develop recommendations for improvement. Aiming to complete this by early 2026, the endeavor, costing $328,873, looks to tap into PERF's history of improving policing and criminal justice effectiveness.
In a detailed plan released by the City of Akron, the review will involve direct encounters with stakeholders within the police force and the wider community. PERF plans to collaborate with the University of Akron’s Department of Criminal Justice Studies to craft an actionable implementation strategy for their recommendations. The Mayor underscored the commitment to actualizing the forthcoming suggestions. "My commitment is that this report will not gather dust on a shelf but will be used to guide our efforts for years to come," Mayor Malik told the City of Akron's official news outlet.
Akron Police Chief, Brian Harding, shared his enthusiasm for the review process, trusting in PERF's expertise and collaborative approach. "The PERF team has extensive experience in this arena, and they bring the knowledge and track record necessary to conduct this review in collaboration with our department and our community," Chief Harding explained to the City of Akron's newsroom. PERF's Executive Director Chuck Wexler also expressed his support for the project, acknowledging the mutual benefit for both APD and the community it serves.
The city is assembling an engagement working group to oversee PERF’s efforts, ensuring a balanced internal and external community involvement. This group will interface with PERF and mayoral office representatives, deliberating on the processes of community engagement. To facilitate transparency, PERF has additionally set up an email where stakeholders can forward their input, and surveys will be dispatched to all uniformed APD employees.
PERF's immediate action plan includes collecting pertinent documents from APD and scheduling an in-person site visit in October to engage with key stakeholders. The City outlines multiple objectives, including aligning APD’s policies with national best practices, identifying systemic inequities, fostering community trust, and formulating a clear-cut strategy for policy revisions. PERF, recognized for its efforts since 1976 to enhance police services across the country, now brings its expertise to Akron with a focus on progressive police policy modernization and community trust-building.
