AKRON, Ohio — Seeking to reshape the leadership of the city's police department, Akron Mayor Shammas Malik on Monday proposed "voluntary separation packages" for higher-ups within the force. Specifically, the mayor asked City Council to approve a $400,000 buyout for Jesse Leeser, the city's remaining deputy police chief.
The news comes just days after Acting Chief Brian Harding was promoted to the position on a full-time basis, replacing the retired Steve Mylett. Due to his interpretation of language in the city's charter, Malik had previously announced only internal candidates would be eligible to lead the department, and that deputy chiefs (one rank below chief) would be considered first followed potentially by captains.
At the time, Akron only had two deputy chiefs: Harding and Leeser. Both applied for the job (meaning captains would be excluded), but Harding was eventually named the only finalist, and ended up participating in multiple community town halls before Malik officially hired him.
According to 3News partner Signal Akron, Malik soured on Leeser during the interview process, and eventually came to the conclusion that he "did not feel comfortable moving forward with him (Leeser)." At one of the town halls with Harding, he was specifically quoted as expressing frustration with Leeser's "hesitation to participate in the public aspects of the process," meaning in the mayor's view the deputy chief was unwilling to take part in things like town halls or community engagement."
Though Malik did not mention Leeser by name, it was public knowledge that Harding and Leeser were the only candidates being considered, making the implications obvious.
"I have a responsibility not to present candidates to the public at a public forum whom I know I would not select to hire in this role," the mayor told residents, per Signal Akron. "I think everybody would understand that. That would be a farce."
Though Leeser is currently the only deputy chief with Harding now in the top role, the city has budgeted for four such positions. In addition to those jobs, Malik also said Monday he will seek similar buyouts for captains and lieutenants, with the goal of "bringing new ideas and perspectives into leadership roles" with new hires.
Malik has been vocal about police reform since the death of Jayland Walker and his own election as mayor last fall, calling for "systemic change" in the department. However, he has also vowed to "not defund the police," and his newly approved budget actually calls for "the highest amount of APD officers in 20 years."
"Chief Harding shares my vision to take our police department in a new direction, focused heavily on community policing and forming relationships with our residents," Malik said Monday. "This step will allow us to build a team focused on that work."
The administration admits the proposed $400,000 buyout is "a significant figure," but one that takes into account "the significant pension income that officers forfeit to retire early." No specifics have been given on potential captain and lieutenant buyouts at this time, as by law such changes must be negotiated with Akron's Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 as well as Council.
"I'm very supportive of the Mayor’s vision to increase community policing and engagement with our residents," Harding wrote of the proposals. "Our officers demonstrate dedicated service to our community every day, and while we work on strengthening policing and public safety, we will always seek to show respect to the individual service of each member of our safety forces. It should be noted that these programs are voluntary, and employees are entirely within their rights to remain in their positions."
The legislation concerning Leeser's job will be officially introduced at Monday night's City Council meeting, although Malik did make a presentation to the Budget Committee earlier this afternoon. You can watch that meeting in the player below: