City of Akron Releases Body-Worn Camera Footage of Officer-Involved Shooting
City of Akron Press Release
From the desk of Stephanie Marsh
Published: 07-03-2022
Akron, Ohio, July 3, 2022 — Today, following a press conference, Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan and Police Chief Steve Mylett released body-worn camera footage from all officers involved in the shooting of Jayland Walker that took place June 27. That footage is available here.
A new city ordinance, adopted last year (available in full here), requires the City to release video of an incident involving a police officer’s use of deadly force against a person or use of force resulting in serious bodily injury to a person, within seven days of the incident. The initial release must include footage from at least three cameras, assuming multiple devices captured the events. In this case, the city has released footage from all eight officers involved in the incident as well as five other officers who were on scene but did not shoot.
The city announced on June 28 that it had contacted the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation and requested that BCI begin an independent investigation of the incident. That process is already underway.
“I am urging the public to do one of the most difficult things I can ask, and that is to be patient and let the Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation do their work," said Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan. "It's my commitment to be as open and transparent as we can be, given that there is an ongoing independent investigation. I trust that investigation to be fair, thorough, and just.”
"By formally requesting that BCI handle this initial investigation, we are following what I believe to be best practice and which many communities across the country are now doing," said Chief Steve Mylett. "Utilizing an independent entity to conduct the investigation will be a further step in increasing trust and accountability with our citizens.”
Akron has also released a map of the pursuit, a timeline of the incident, a transcript of the dispatch conversation during the pursuit, a description of the investigatory process and basic information on the officers involved including race, gender, years of service, and disciplinary record. That information is available here.
"Releasing the body-worn footage in a timely fashion and moving to an independent investigation are the types of changes our community has been requesting for decades," said Deputy Mayor Marco Sommerville. "From here, we need to be patient and allow that investigation to run its course. I'm urging peace for our city throughout this process."
The city was joined at the press conference by faith leaders in the community who stood and echoed the city’s call for peace.
A recording of the press conference in its entirety at https://www.youtube.com/AkronOhio.
For further information, contact:
Stephanie Marsh
Chief Communications Officer
Phone: 330-375-2754
E-mail: [email protected]
