AKRON, Ohio — Nearly 16 months after eight of its officers fatally shot Jayland Walker, the Akron Police Department says it has almost completed its internal investigation into the incident.
According to Akron Police Captain, Michael Miller, the department's internal probe is going through a final legal review and is expected to be released at the end of November.
In the meantime, Miller says all eight officers involved in the fatal shooting of Walker on June 27, 2022 have been restored to "full-time, active duty." That decision was made based on the independent review conducted by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and the Summit County grand jury's vote not to indict.
The eight officers had been placed on paid administrative leave immediately after the shooting. In October 2022, the officers were reassigned to "administrative duty," meaning they were not in the community on patrol, but did provide "internal support in non-uniform roles."
In April of this year, it was announced that jurors issued the "no bill" decision, with Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost stating they felt the officers' use of deadly force against Walker was justified by state law. "There is no doubt that Jayland Walker did indeed shoot at police officers," Yost added.
Though Walker — a Black man — was later found to have fired a weapon out of his car during the chase, he was not armed at the time of his death, and an autopsy eventually confirmed he had been hit by more than 40 police bullets. The incident and subsequent release of the body camera footage caused an uproar in the community, leading to mass protests and a successful ballot initiative calling for a civilian oversight board of the police department.
"I think most of us feel like they should still be on administrative leave or on desk duty again, but the way the process is set out that's how it works through collective bargaining," Akron City Councilwoman Tara Mosely said. "I think it gives some people some unease knowing that they're back out there, whether its giving officers unease that they are back out there and there are people that know who they are. Our hope is that they'll do the right thing, and we'll just have to wait and see what the department of justice does."
Mosely told 3News Council passed legislation to fund more de-escalation training for the police department — with a couple dozen new recruits on the streets — as the city, like others around the state and country, continues to grapple with crime.
"We all still think about Jayland Walker and the family, and it's always in the back of our minds. And it's just unfortunate, because there's so much going on here in our community," Mosely added. "It's like, every day, you hear about gunfire, gunshots, and homicides and murder, and it almost gets lost in the collective, and that's unfortunate."
In June of this year, the Walker family filed a $45 million lawsuit in federal court, claiming the officers “used excessive force.” The lawsuit is against the city of Akron and the eight officers involved in the shooting. The lawsuit also names Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan and Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett as defendants.
Horrigan elected not to seek a third term as Akron mayor, while Mylett is set to retire at the end of this year.
"Mayor Horrigan is supportive of the decision to bring the officers back on active duty due to the independent BCI investigation as well as the grand jury's decision," the mayor's office told WKYC. "Due to the pending litigation, that will be our only comment at this time."
3News also reached out to Walker family attorney Bobby DiCello for a reaction to the update from Akron police and received the below statement:
"The Walker family is saddened by the way in which they continue to be ignored by the City of Akron. City leadership has never once reached out to discuss the employment of the eight officers or explain why the officers are being reinstated. While this decision reopens painful wounds for them, the family remains strong in their commitment to seeking Justice and Dignity for Jayland."
Previous Reporting:
- Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett to retire at end of the year following tenure overshadowed by Jayland Walker's death
- Family of Jayland Walker files lawsuit seeking at least $45 million in damages nearly 1 year after deadly Akron police shooting
- 'I was terrified': Inside BCI's video interviews with Akron police officers who fatally shot Jayland Walker
- Grand jury declines to criminally charge 8 Akron officers involved in Jayland Walker's death