AKRON, Ohio — As the investigation continues into the Akron police shooting death of 15-year-old Jazmir Tucker on Thanksgiving night, Mayor Shammas Malik has issued a statement regarding recent threats allegedly being made against officers.
Here’s his full statement, which was posted over the weekend:
Our city has faced several very difficult weeks since the fatal shooting on November 28. Since that time, I have been made aware of threats against specific officers and the entire police department. This is unacceptable behavior. No one deserves to have threats made against them.
When tragedies like this occur, our city government has a responsibility to be transparent in sharing information and records, and we also have a responsibility to the safety of our employees and their families and I take both of these with the utmost seriousness.
As we continue to release records in response to this incident, we will also continue to evaluate any and all threats, and where they constitute criminal conduct, we will work to hold those making threats accountable.
USE-OF-FORCE POLICY REVIEW
On Friday, Mayor Malik announced the city's intends to work with the law firm Paul, Weiss and 21 CP Solutions for a comprehensive review of the Akron Police Department's use-of-force policy."
Their team will be led by former United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch. Mayor Malik's office says the proposed review "is expected to take approximately five to six months."
"The firm will work closely with 21 CP Solutions as a consultant that specializes in helping cities and communities effectively tackle the challenges of delivering safe, effective, just and constitutional public safety services," according to a press release from Mayor Malik's office.
Mayor Malik is set to introduce legislation for these plans during Monday night's city council meeting.
“I believe this comprehensive review is the most consequential step we can take as a city in improving our policy, practices and culture around use of force and how our department engages with residents," Mayor Malik said in a press release. "Paul, Weiss and 21 CP Solutions will bring unmatched expertise to the table. I want this process to involve all voices throughout our community -- including our councilmembers, our Police Auditor’s office and Citizens’ Police Oversight Board, the Fraternal Order of Police union, civic groups and more.”
JAZMIR TUCKER CASE DETAILS
The shooting dates back to Nov. 28 when a police say a pair of patrol officers were parked inside their cruiser working on a report from an unrelated call when they heard gunshots nearby around 11:01 p.m. in the area of East Avenue and Vernon Odom Boulevard.
“Shortly after getting out of their patrol car, officers encountered a male with a loaded firearm, and one of the officers, a nearly five-year veteran of the police department, discharged his weapon, striking the suspect,” according to the initial details released by Akron police last week. “The second officer did not discharge his duty weapon.”
The person who was shot, later identified as Jazmir, was taken to the hospital where he died from his injuries.
Both officers have been placed on paid administrative leave, which is departmental policy.
In his initial statement after the shooting, Mayor Malik said "a gun was recovered from Jazmir's zipped-up jacket pocket." Days later, he was asked during a press conference if Jazmir was brandishing a weapon when the officers encountered him that night.
“We do not know what the officers saw in responding to the scene," Mayor Malik said during that press conference. "What I was speaking to is what you see in the body camera footage when they approach him. So we do not know, and that will be, again, the subject of the BCI investigation.”
Once Ohio BCI completes their investigation, the case will be submitted to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office for review.
Jazmir's funeral was held last week.