8 Akron officers back on full duty as Jayland Walker shooting probe nears end

Doug Livingston, Akron Beacon Journal
Updated ·2 min read
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Jayland Walker
Jayland Walker

Internal investigators are wrapping up an administrative review of the fatal police shooting of Jayland Walker with a full report "ready to release" by the end of November, Akron police said.

Meanwhile, the eight officers who fatally shot Walker last year have returned to regular patrol duties after a Summit County grand jury in April cleared them of any criminal charges.

"Based on the independent investigation conducted by BCI and the Summit County grand jury's decision not to indict, all eight officers are back on full-time, active duty," Capt. Michael Miller said.

Walker died when a crosstown car chase in which the young man fired a single shot out his driver's side window ended in a parking lot near South Main Street and Wilbeth Road, where eight officers pursuing on foot collectively shot Walker 46 times. A gun was later found in Walker's car.

The eight officers were immediately placed on administrative leave after the June 27, 2022, incident. Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett called in the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Mylett, who announced recently that he will be leaving at the end of this year, called the eight officers back to perform administrative and desk duties to help with a staffing shortage in the Akron Police Department.

A Summit County grand jury this spring heard the evidence collected by BCI and presented by special prosecutor's with the Ohio Attorney General's Office. The panel of local jurors in April did not vote in the supermajority needed to indict any of the officers criminally.

The next day, Mylett told the Beacon Journal that the city's internal investigation into any possible policy violations, which was on hold pending the criminal probe, could now begin in earnest. Mylett added that the BCI report provided him with nothing to suggest the officers did anything wrong.

Jayland Walker police shooting: What you need to know

"Nothing is jumping out at me right now," Mylett said at the time. "But there could be, I don't know."

Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett addresses the media during a press conference following the grand jury decision in the Jayland Walker case as Clarence Tucker, left, deputy mayor for public safety, and Mayor Dan Horrigan listen.
Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett addresses the media during a press conference following the grand jury decision in the Jayland Walker case as Clarence Tucker, left, deputy mayor for public safety, and Mayor Dan Horrigan listen.

About a week before the anniversary of the shooting, attorneys for the Walker family filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Akron, the eight officers and other police and public officials. The ongoing suit seeks $45 million in damages, or $1 million per bullet that struck Walker.

Bobby DiCello, one of the attorneys representing the family of Jayland Walker, holds up documents related to their $45 million lawsuit filed against the city of Akron, mayor, the eight officers who shot and killed Jayland last summer and others during a press conference June 16 at the First Congregational Church of Akron.
Bobby DiCello, one of the attorneys representing the family of Jayland Walker, holds up documents related to their $45 million lawsuit filed against the city of Akron, mayor, the eight officers who shot and killed Jayland last summer and others during a press conference June 16 at the First Congregational Church of Akron.

Reach reporter Doug Livingston at dlivingston@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3792.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron police officers in Jayland Walker shooting back on duty