AKRON, Ohio — Akron Police have completed their internal investigation of the eight officers involved in the shooting of 25-year-old Jayland Walker on June 27, 2022.

In an executive summary by Chief Stephen Mylett released Tuesday, he said he found the officers’ actions and use of deadly force to be compliant with department policies. 

“While certainly tragic, after having reviewed the BCI investigation and Lt. (Scott) Lieke’s investigation, and the City’s policy, similar to the Special Grand Jury, I find that that the use of deadly force was objectively reasonable and the officers complied with the use of force policy,” he said in the summary.

In the summary, Mylett said he directed the department’s Office of Professional Standards and Accountability to begin an internal investigation to determine “if any agency policies or procedures were violated during the tragic event.”

He did so, he said, following an investigation by Ohio’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation overseen by a special prosecutor that resulted in a grand jury declining to indict the officers involved in his death.

“Everyone should be encouraged to read what the Chief of Police wrote. He said Jayland’s shooting was in compliance with the policies of the Akron Police Department. That says it all," said Walker family Attorney Bobby DiCello. "While not unexpected, it is exactly this position that makes it critical for us to continue the lawsuit on behalf of Jayland Walker’s family. In fact, it is exactly because of this position, that we look forward to moving this case further through our justice system."

Walker was unarmed when he was shot more than 40 times by eight officers following a chase. The officers fired 94 rounds in total. During the chase, officers claim he fired a shot at them, and a gun was found in his car. The story gained national attention and spurred protests for months in Akron.

Akron's mayor-elect, Shammas Malik, also released a statement in which he said, "the killing of Jayland Walker is a tragedy that our community continues to grapple with."

When the grand jury gave their decision, he said he accepted the findings but that he also has concerns about how much force officers used.

"As my administration takes office in January, we will review APD policies, procedures, and training, and take all appropriate steps to make deadly incidents less likely," Malik said in his statement. "We will work with our community and our police force to ensure that every person in Akron is treated with dignity and respect in all interactions with our city government.”

Mylett said in his summary that he believes the grand jury’s decision “was predicated on the use of force being objectively reasonable based on the facts and evidence presented to them by the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutor."

The investigation found vehicle pursuit violations, according to the summary, including that two patrol vehicles pursued Walker without authorization from a supervisor and that two officers did not immediately activate their body cameras. 

“Given the totality of the circumstances at the time of the pursuit, to include the significant officer and public safety issues present and the dynamics of the situation, and based on the accounts of the officers involved, I find that no officer intentionally violated agency policies when they entered the vehicle pursuit nor did any officer intentionally fail to activate their body worn cameras,” Mylett said in the summary.

He noted that the issue of body camera activation during a pursuit will be fixed by the department’s “recently implemented in-car camera program.”

The internal investigation found that one officer had extended his weapon’s magazine, increasing the capacity by up to six rounds. 

“A review of agency policies and procedures regarding this issue uncovered an absence of clear language addressing the topic,” Mylett said in the summary. “I find that the officer did not intentionally violate any policy or procedure when he added an extension to his department issued magazine.”

Mylett said in the summary that a policy review was conducted and necessary adjustments were made. Mylett also noted that the investigation by BCI showed the officer fired fewer rounds than what would have been in the original capacity.

The summary notes that before running from officers, Walker’s driver-side door opened and that he looked to be exiting the car. 

“Knowing the suspect had used deadly force toward officers during the vehicle pursuit when he discharged a firearm from his vehicle, an officer made the decision to use his patrol car’s push bumpers to attempt to close the driver’s door in order to contain the sole occupant of the suspect vehicle,” Mylett said in the summary.

Mylett concluded in the summary that the actions of this officer were reasonable.

The summary also notes two officers’ failed attempts to subdue Walker with tasers during a foot chase. Mylett found the officers’ use of tasers was within the department’s policies.

“Once Mr. Walker discharged his weapon from his vehicle at or in the direction or in the presence of the pursuing officers, the dynamic of the routine traffic stop dramatically changed from a routine traffic stop to a significant public safety and officer safety issue,” Mylett said in the summary. “The situation was very fluid and very dangerous.”

As part of his summary’s justification of the pursuit, Mylett highlighted Walker was wearing a ski mask “on a warm June night,” which caused the officers to “fear a more severe crime.”

Mylett said Walker was told to show his hands multiple times but that he turned and reached for his waistband before he “raised his arm in a shooting posture.”

This, Mylett said, led officers to think he was still armed and was preparing to fire. Mylett said the officers fired “to protect themselves and their fellow officers.”

“As I already stated, this was a very dynamic, dangerous and fluid event and all officers were focused on safely apprehending the fleeing suspect and when presented with a reasonably perceived life-threatening danger, acted to protect themselves and their fellow officers,” he said in the summary.