AKRON, Ohio — For the last 10 months, since the shooting death of Jayland Walker by eight police officers, the city of Akron has been on edge.
Last week, a grand jury decided that no state criminal charges will be filed against the eight officers. Jurors issued a "no bill" decision, with Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost stating that they felt the officers' use of deadly force against Walker was justified by state law.
Immediately after the decision was announced, there were protests. Akron police were criticized for its use of pepper spray to break up the demonstrations.
Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett was sworn in on Aug. 19, 2021, around 10 months before Walker was killed. On Wednesday, he sat down with 3News' Lydia Esparra for his first interview since the grand jury rendered their decision. Here were some of the key points of the conversation.
On the decision to turn the investigation over to Ohio BCI
"For perception, for suspicion, we went outside the organization and we asked the Bureau of Criminal Investigations [sic] to run this," Mylett explained, adding that for a fair and impartial investigation, giving it to BCI was the only choice. "The investigation is the investigation, and I would encourage people to get on the attorney general's website and read and look at the entire case, as the grand jury did. This was a tragic case."
On anger in the city after the grand jury decision
When asked how he and others can deal with people's negative feelings over the decision, Mylett answered, "Give people space."
"If somebody is angry or emotions are at the forefront, then their willingness and their ability to listen is impaired," he continued, "and so [I believe in] patience and just continually coming back to engage."
On the decision itself
Mylett has three children, and his youngest is the same age as Walker was when he died.
"When that happened — and I'm not trying to draw a comparison between my children, my life and Mrs. Walker and the substantial loss that she and her daughter have experienced in this — my heart is ripped out for them," the chief said. "I'm respectful of the anger, of the hurt, of the frustration, of the fear, but the one thing I hope that doesn't happen is that all lines of communication end."
On the protests
"We're going to do everything in our power to protect people's rights, but people don't get to destroy property," Mylett declared. "People don't get to assault other people, and they don't get to assault police officers."
Some of those officers used pepper spray against protestors last week, and the city eventually agreed to a retraining order limiting (but not banning) the department's ability to use similar force. Demonstrators have claimed everything was peaceful until law enforcement began spraying the gas, but Mylett says an intersection was blocked and protestors would not comply with orders to disperse.
"We have to be able to have emergency vehicles getting through on the roadway," Mylett explained, adding the crowds were given a warning to clear even after video showed at least one object being thrown in the direction of officers. For the most part, he admits protestors have been peaceful, except for "a few."
On the aftermath
"I personalize things, whether that's good or bad. I don't know," Mylett said. "But I also have a lot of compassion and empathy for our police officers that have experienced things in their lives that they had limited control over. And their lives are forever changed and we have to figure out a path forward, and I'm confident that we will together: The police department — as their servants — the community, and the community's willingness to engage.
On faith
The Irish Mylett followed his father and four other brothers as a police officer. He is also a devout Catholic, and says that has helped him make decisions.
"I pray every day," he told 3News. "My faith leads me in everything that I do — from the moment I open my eyes to the moment I close my eyes. My faith is in the forefront of who I am and what I do."
We asked if he prayed for the Walker family.
"I do," he answered. "Oh my God, I do. I pray for the Walker family, I pray for our community, I pray for our officers, of course."
On what's next
"We've lost some momentum, we lost some trust in different spots," he conceded, "and now we're working hard to earn it back."