AKRON, Ohio — The city will not hold its daily briefing Wednesday, to observe Jayland Walker’s funeral, a city spokesperson said during the Tuesday briefing.
Akron will observe a city-wide Day of Mourning Wednesday for the public funeral, which will take place at 1 p.m. at the Akron Civic Theatre downtown, following a public viewing at 10 a.m., the Walker family announced Monday.
All downtown parking decks will be free Wednesday for those attending the funeral, the city said.
The city began its daily briefings Monday to give the community the latest information on the police shooting of Walker. The city also launched Akron Updates, a website designed to give the community updates on the Walker investigation as well as downtown road closures and emergency orders.
A series of protests have taken place around the city since July 3, when the city released Akron police body-cam footage of the shooting.
As a result, the Akron Municipal Courthouse is closed for the foreseeable future, and the block of High Street with City Hall and the Harold K. Stubbs Justice Center is blocked at various times for the day to through traffic using city snow ploughs.
The county said the Ohio Building downtown will offer only partial access on Wednesday, and its parking deck will be closed.
A curfew covering the downtown area is in effect daily, from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.
During Tuesday’s briefing, Mayor Dan Horrigan said he will not attend Walker’s funeral.
“We don't want to be any sort of distraction to Jayland, and the mourning and the grief that his family is feeling,” Horrigan said. “I have a heartfelt belief in the compassion and humility and the love for this community, for him and his family.”
Deputy Mayor Marco Sommerville thanked the community for remaining calm during a difficult time, and said he plans to attend Walker’s funeral.
Rumors of bomb threats have circulated, but Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett said during Tuesday’s briefing he is unaware of any threats.
“I checked with my staff, we checked with our partners, and there was no bomb threat that we were aware of,” he said.
Officials said Walker, a 25-year-old Black man, was unarmed when he was shot multiple times by eight Akron officers, following a chase June 27. The matter is under investigation by the Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
Mylett said damaging misinformation is circulating on social media, incorrectly identifying police officers.
“This is a traumatic time for them and their families, as it is for all of our police officers here.” he said. “And the two officers, the two sergeants, that were being named had nothing to do with the incidents that were being attributed to them.”
Mylett said the officers are top-notch sergeants the city needs to guide other officers. Community members should be mindful of what they circulate about officers and about the Walker family.
“People just need to stop,” he said.
Horrigan and Mylett were asked during the briefing whether the city had changed its traffic stop and chase policies since the Walker shooting.
Walker was fatally wounded by police after he led them on a four-minute car chase during which Walker fired a gun at officers in pursuit, police said. Video released by police shows the chase ended when Walker, unarmed, got out of his vehicle in a parking lot and ran. Police said Walker made a movement that appeared threatening and caused officers to shoot, striking Walker roughly 60 times.
Mylett said the city will conduct an internal investigation after the state BCI completes its investigation. If the city determines that the Akron Police Department’s policies were violated, adjustments will be made.
Akron has a history of cancelling pursuits about 45% of the time, Mylett said, depending on things like road and weather conditions, and the behavior of the person being pursued. Supervisors monitor pursuits and also can cancel them, he said.
Sommerville was involved in creation of the ordinance Akron City Council passed last year requiring the release of police body-cam footage within seven days of a use-of-force event.
Akron officials weren’t bound by law in releasing all 13 views of the Walker shooting, he said, but they chose to.
“In the past, we've had situations where the police only show part of what happened in those body cameras. And that's not we wanted to happen this time,” Sommerville said.
Akron’s charter only requires the city to release three views when multiple cameras are in play, but the city’s leadership chose to release all 13 views, he said.
“So there would be no question that we would give everything to the community and for everyone to see what exactly happened on that terrible night,” Sommerville said.
Mylett said the community can view the department’s polices online.
Activist groups have staged protests and rallies around the city, with some making specific demands.
The Freedom Bloc, a local group that protested outside Monday’s City Council meeting, has said organizers have not been able to schedule a sit-down conversation with the mayor, despite Horrigan saying he is willing to have a discussion with local groups.
The Freedom Bloc, in partnership with other activist groups, issued 12 demands of the city several days ago, that pertain to demilitarizing police.
The group sent a certified letter to the city last weekend, and has said until the demands are met, the protests will continue.
The city has said it will not release the names of officers who are receiving death threats, as it is not the city’s policy.
Horrigan said the groups should email the city at press@AkronOhio.gov to be put in touch with the U.S. Department of Justice, which is coordinating talks between the city and area groups.