At-Large Council Member Eric Garrett stood Monday evening outside the Akron Municipal Building in a crowd of protesters, megaphone in hand, telling them that a 15-year-old should not be dead.
In the crowd, protesters continued their calls and responses. Speakers on megaphones shouted, “I can’t hear you,” which was followed by the roar of Jazmir Tucker’s name.
Minutes later, Garrett rushed upstairs to a City Council meeting where he explained to Akron Mayor Shammas Malik why he withdrew legislation – co-sponsored by Council President Margo Sommerville – demanding the firing of the police officer who shot and killed Tucker on Thanksgiving night.
Garrett said less than one hour after he submitted the legislation Monday afternoon to the city’s law department, it was leaked to the Fraternal Order of Police Akron Lodge #7, the local police union.
“This hateful, disrespectful regard by the law department to share my legislation with their cronies is undermining our trust,” Garrett said.
This moment, and others, marked the latest contentious public discussion about not only use-of-force policies of the Akron Police Department but also due process for law enforcement involved in deadly shootings.
The Akron police union does not support Garrett’s calls for firing the officer.
Local unions push back against council members’ resolution to fire officer
Last week, union president Brian Lucey asked the community for “calm and patience” as the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation conducts its independent investigation. Then on Monday, Lucey, wearing a black “Akron 7” t-shirt (for Akron FOP Lodge No. 7) along with other law enforcement representatives in attendance, arrived to speak at the City Council meeting. He was not allowed because council rules state individuals may only participate in public comment once every 30 days.
FOP member Brent Heller, who tried to yield his time to Lucey, repeated the request for calm and patience. Heller also asked what Akron has become, in regard to a 15-year-old carrying a firearm.
“When is someone going to talk about holding those who terrorize our community or break laws accountable?” Heller asked.
Heller also addressed Garrett, saying that he of all people should understand the importance of due process, since he said Garrett has been the subject of allegations.
Garrett said he plans to resubmit his resolution early next year. In addressing Malik, sitting in a row of seats behind him, Garrett asked that the mayor stand with the five Black council members in support of the resolution.
Malik rebutted Garrett’s accusation of a “leak,” saying that requesting legislation is the right of all council members, but those “secrets” are neither secret nor confidential.
As far as Garrett’s allegations against the city’s law department go, Malik said he needs to have a conversation with the department.
“But there is nothing, nothing, nothing that would stop the councilman from bringing that resolution,” Malik said.
David Prentice of the Tri-county Regional Labor Council, AFL-CIO spoke during public comment, saying that undermining due process for the police officer who shot Tucker could set a dangerous precedent that ripples through other unions.
“Any attempt to bypass the processes outlined in a collective bargaining agreement is an attack on labor itself.” said Prentice, the organization’s executive secretary-treasurer.
At-Large Council Member Jeff Fusco agreed, echoing what he said at the previous council meeting: “Everyone is entitled to due process.”
Council president has a ‘heavy heart’
Sommerville said that her heart is heavy for multiple reasons, one being that members of Jazmir Tucker’s family were sitting in the chambers. She extended her condolences to his mother, Ashley Green, and his twin brother, Amir Tucker, as they sat in the front row holding a photo of Jazmir.
Sommerville said she was also torn because of how divided the city is.
“We are all Akron, and we have more in common than we have different,” Sommerville said.
Sommerville also spoke in favor of a use-of-force review that could cost more than $700,000, saying that it is an “investment that needs to be made.”
“We can look at all the policies. We can create all the best practices,” Sommerville said, “but if we are not holding officers accountable, it does not matter.”
Mayor wants city to spend more than $700,000 on police assessment
After addressing the claims made by Garrett, Malik took his time at the podium to address his plan to hire out-of-state law and consulting firms to review the Akron Police Department’s use-of-force policies, a measure that was introduced during the Public Safety Committee’s meeting Monday afternoon. This review would have a price tag of up to $768,000.
Rev. Joyce Penfield, who spoke during public comment, took issue with the proposed assessment, not only because of the price tag but also because of what she said is the city’s “strange habit” of paying for studies without making a plan for improvement.
“If it’s not built in to do political will for any tiny recommendation or more, don’t do it,” Penfield said. “Don’t waste the time. Don’t fool people.”
Garrett agreed with this sentiment, recommending that the money instead be invested in the community.
“We don’t need any more documents written up to put on the shelf for paper weight,” Garrett said.
At-Large Council Member Linda Omobien said that something has to be done and that she hopes this will be the last assessment the city does, adding that it is only a piece of the work that needs to be done.
“I will spend whatever it takes to get something meaningful and helpful for us to do in this city,” Omobien said.
The Public Safety Committee plans to hold a special meeting next week so council can vote on the proposal before the end of this year.
