AKRON, Ohio – The city of Akron’s search for a new police chief is winding down, but the community will have a final opportunity to engage in the selection process.

The city named four finalists last week, none of whom are from Ohio. A community town hall meeting will be held on Thursday to enable the candidates to answer community questions submitted ahead of the event.

Akron Police Chief Kenneth Ball retired in February, after 29 years with the department, the last three years as chief.

What You Need To Know

  • Akron has narrowed the police chief search to four candidates, with none from Akron

  • The city will enable residents to interact with the police chief search through questions submitted for a June 17 livestreamed forum

  • A 15-question survey was distributed in April, which the mayor asked residents to complete though a robocall sent to Akron residents

  • Submit questions to the city for the live forum by June 15 at noon

The city hired Ralph Andersen & Associates to lead the search, and said it would go beyond a typical three-month search to find the right candidate. A 15-question survey was distributed in April, which the mayor asked residents to complete though a robocall sent to Akron residents.

In a release, Mayor Dan Horrigan said he was impressed with the pool of candidates who applied.

“I am looking for an individual who has the experience, temperament and integrity to drive this department forward,” he said. “We face significant challenges related to violent crime and strained community trust, and we need a chief who places a primary value on transparency, inclusion and crime prevention, and who is prepared to drive change where needed. They must be a listener and a leader at the highest level.”

Akron Police Chief Finalists

Eric David Hawkins, Chief of the Albany, New York Police Department

Hawkins has served as chief since 2018. He has more than 30 years of law enforcement experience, including more than 18 years in an executive law enforcement position. He earned a juris doctor in 2014 from Western Michigan University, and earned master’s and bachelor’s degrees in administration from Central Michigan University. Prior to serving as Albany’s chief, Hawkins was a police chief in Southfield, Mich. He said in his application to Akron, the city’s next chief “must be reform-minded, community-oriented, and be a proponent of equitable and community-focused policing.” He also said he believes “accountability, transparency, and fairness are also critical.”

Joseph P. Sullivan, retired Deputy Commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department

Sullivan recently retired after 38 years with the Philadelphia Police Department. He served as chief inspector of the Homeland - Counter Terrorism Bureau in Philadelphia for nearly a decade before assuming the role of deputy commissioner patrol operations, commanding the patrol operations section. He oversaw 4,648 employees, 21 patrol districts comprising six patrol divisions, as well as the Community Relations Division, Victim Services, LGBTQ Liaison, Hate Crimes, Neighborhood Services School Crossing Guards and other divisions.

Stephen L. Mylett, Chief of the Bellevue, Washington Police Department

Mylett holds a master’s in criminal justice leadership and management from Sam Houston State University, and earned his bachelor’s degree from Midwestern State University. Mylett told the city policing has dramatically changed over the years, and must continue to evolve. He emphasizes collaborative relationships, saying, “Akron Police Department must continue to leverage its resources to build trust within the diverse Akron community and create an environment conducive for a high-performing organization. Mylett said he is often described as an individual and lawmaker with the terms, “Integrity, honor and commitment.”

Christopher A. Davis, Deputy Chief of the Portland, Oregon Police Bureau

Davis holds a bachelor’s degree in justice studies and a master's of public safety from Arizona State University. He was also a member of the FBI National Academy’s 258th session in 2014. He served as assistant chief of the services branch, and as the deputy chief, overseeing the annual budget from 2017 though 2021. He has worked over the course of his career to become known as a “trusted, progressive, forward-thinking leader,” which are skills the city of Akron is seeking, he said in his cover letter. In 2018, he helped develop a public safety support specialist program to deploy and train non-sworn department members to handle low-level calls in the community.

The Community Townhall will be livestreamed on the city’s YouTube page on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

To submit questions, send an email to Akron’s police chief search or call the Mayor’s Action Center at 311, or (330) 375-2311 by Wednesday at noon.

 

Related Stories