Akron Mayor Malik talks gun violence, use of force in State of the City address

Yahoo

04-06-2025

AKRON, Ohio (WJW) – Since becoming the mayor of Akron in January 2024, Shammas Malik has faced challenges and controversial issues.
A century after the first Goodyear blimp was launched in Akron, three of the iconic airships were overhead on Tuesday night as Malik delivered his second State of the City address at Lock 3 Park.
He told the audience that the safety of the city's 187,000 residents is city hall's top priority.
'Our approach to public safety starts with our safety forces in police and fire who respond daily to difficult, often dangerous situations and help people who are victims of crimes, dealing with medical emergencies and more,' he said.
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The mayor indicated that the first approach in the city's Safer Together program is focused on gun violence prevention and intervention.
'We are thankful that overall shootings and homicides have been trending downward, but we are going to stay focused on this. Anyone perpetrating violence in the city of Akron must be held accountable,' he said.
During the address, Malik renewed his call for the hiring of a consulting firm to study the Akron Police Department's use of force policies and practices.
Among the incidents he mentioned was the November 2024 shooting death of 15-year-old Jazmir Tucker by an Akron patrolman.
The shooting remains the focus of an ongoing investigation.
However, officers reported on that night that they were responding to the sound of nearby gunfire when they encountered Tucker. After the teen was shot, they found a loaded weapon in his coat pocket.
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During the mayor's address, he told the audience, 'we need to have public discussions about how and why some encounters result in use of force, and develop shared community expectations around these situations. We owe it to our officers to equip them with the best possible training and policies available.'
Malik touted the current staffing of Akron safety forces, 488 police officers and 402 firefighters, and the hiring of new classes of recruits.
However, he also sounded a cautionary note about how any federal funding cuts, and the state of the economy could impact the city's operating budget and its priorities.
'Honestly in this environment, it's going to be a challenge even holding steady, so what happens with our country's economy could have a big impact,' he said. 'The picture looks very different depending on whether economic growth continues or if a recession happens.'
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