Akron Mayor Shammas Malik made a commitment to respond within 45 days to reports from the Citizens’ Police Oversight Board’s independent police auditor, Anthony Finnell. It comes nearly three months after Finnell’s first report alleging inappropriate use of force and misconduct by members of the Akron Police Department.
On Tuesday, Finnell and CPOB Chair Kemp Boyd met with Malik, Law Director Deborah Matz, and Police Chief Brian Harding. Malik agreed to a general 45-day response window to Finnell’s reports going forward, Finnell and Kemp both told Signal Akron.
The unenforceability of the police oversight system’s recommendations was recently reported by Signal Akron, along with the independent police auditor’s frustration about not knowing when, or if, a response would be coming to his reports.
Malik’s spokesperson, Stephanie Marsh, confirmed on Wednesday night that the mayor has “committed to a goal of responding within 45 days to a report or recommendations” from the independent police auditor. “In the event we feel we can’t reach that goal, we will let them know ahead of time with an anticipated timeline of when we will be able to respond.“
Boyd told Signal Akron after Wednesday night’s CPOB meeting that Malik’s commitment “is a win for us, to say that we at least got something.”
Also in that meeting, Finnell said the mayor’s response to the auditor’s first report, issued April 17 and criticizing the Akron Police Department for the body slam and arrest of Dierra Fields, is expected in August. Responses to Finnell’s other two reports could come in September.
Charter amendment doesn’t address what follows auditor’s reports
A charter amendment adopted by Akron voters after Jayland Walker’s death in 2022 created a civilian oversight board and the independent police auditor role to investigate police misconduct and suggest policy changes. But, as Signal Akron reported, the new city law makes no mention of what is supposed to happen after the auditor issues their reports to the mayor, police department and Akron City Council.
In June, Finnell told Signal Akron, “As far as what the next steps are, that’s where everything is up in the air because the charter doesn’t address the next steps. The charter talks about recommending policy changes, but it doesn’t talk about what’s to be done after those recommendations are made.”
Malik’s commitment to a 45-day response is a marked shift from what he told Signal Akron in June. Malik said the lack of charter language about when and how the mayor, police and City Council respond is intentional. Instead, he said, it’s up to “the elected officials and public officials who are actually managing the safety forces day to day to then respond as they see fit.”
While Finnell called Tuesday’s meeting with Malik, Harding and Matz “pretty productive,” he noted that, while Malik committed to a more concrete timeframe for a response, he doesn’t know what the response will look like. But, he said, “We’re getting feedback, which creates dialogue.”
Boyd told Signal Akron that Tuesday’s meeting indicated “we’re being heard and we’re being listened to. We’re being invited into a space where we can voice what we need to say while keeping our independence.”
The CPOB chair also said he recently spoke with City Council President Margo Sommerville, who previously told Signal Akron that she was unsure of council’s role in the process. They agreed to have Finnell, Boyd and other CPOB members update council members every few months on Finnell’s use-of-force reports.
