AKRON, Ohio — The city has issued what should be the final call for applications from residents who want to serve on a board overseeing police operations in Akron.
The Citizens’ Police Oversight Board was created through an amendment to the city charter approved by voters in November with passage of Issue 10.
The application period for the oversight board will open at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3, the city said in a release.
Applications will be available for download from the city’s website or can be picked up at City Hall, 166 S. High St. in downtown. The completed forms must be submitted by noon Tuesday, Jan. 24, either in person at City Hall or emailed to the city.
The city intends to introduce legislation to City Council on Monday, Feb. 6 for each of the selected board members. Approval and passage of the board is expected by the end of February, the city said.
Issue 10 supersedes a citizen oversight board created in September through City Council-approved legislation.
About 60 applicants had applied to serve on the earlier board. Those applicants will be considered for positions on the current oversight board without the need to reapply, the city said.
The city has considered creation of a police oversight board for a long time, said Mayor Dan Horrigan.
“Seating the board is just the first step,” he said. “There will be a lot of work ahead for these board members and I encourage anyone interested in making a real impact on our community to apply and lend your voice to this important dialogue.”
Moving to create the oversight board now was a response to the fatal police shooting of Jayland Walker in June. Walker, a 25-year-old Black man, who police said fired a weapon during a chase, was unarmed when he was shot nearly 50 times by eight Akron officers.
The city’s goal in establishing the oversight board via an ordinance, was to first work through the details of the board’s operation and then put the issue before voters next year, the city said.
Issue 10 arose not long after the ordinance passed. Amendments to the city’s charter are more permanent than an ordinance because the charter can only be changed via a citizen vote, officials have said.
Moving to create the oversight board now was a response to the fatal police shooting of Jayland Walker in June. (Spectrum News/Jennifer Conn)
Ward 8 Councilman Shammas Malik said that although getting to the present oversight board was “a messy process,” the city is on a solid track now.
“There was a lot of consternation about whether this could be implemented, and now we’re moving forward and implementing it, and everyone’s on the same page,” he said. “So, you know, it took longer than I would have liked. But everyone is, it seems, is now on the same page, and we’re going to move forward in a way that’s constructive.”
Requirements of the oversight board’s makeup are laid out in the charter’s amended language.
Under the amendment, the board should comprise nine Akron residents, with no more than two from one city ward, with the overall board reflecting the city’s diversity.
Three board members are to be appointed by the mayor with City Council approval and six are to be appointed by a two-thirds majority of City Council.
Requirements regarding board-member selection specify the board include:
- Someone between ages 18 and 35
- Someone from the faith-based community
- An attorney with experience in criminal justice or civil rights
- A mental-health professional
- Someone with a law-enforcement background
- Someone who works with economically disadvantaged or underserved communities
The charter amendment also creates a new city office with three, full-time employees — an independent police auditor, a deputy independent police auditor and an administrative staff member.
Once seated, the board is expected to adopt policies and procedures for its own operations and for the auditor’s office.
City Council President Margo Sommerville said the board will help satisfy the community’s long-time desire to have some kind of involvement in the policing of the city.
“This board will help foster better communication between the community and the police, reduce public concern about high-profile incidents and prevent future issues by identifying areas of concern and offering options to improve policing,” she said.
Interested candidates who require alternate accommodations to apply should call 330-375-2780. For TDD phone service, call Ohio Relay at 800-750-0750 for assistance.
