8 Akron police officers involved in Jayland Walker shooting are back on active duty

Doug Livingston and Christopher Cann, USA TODAY NETWORK
Updated ·2 min read
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The eight Ohio police officers involved in the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Jayland Walker last year have returned to active duty, authorities said.

Each of the officers was cleared of criminal charges by a Summit County grand jury in April, leading to the decision to place all eight officers "back on full-time, active duty," Akron Police Capt. Michael Miller said.

Meantime, internal investigators are nearing the end of an administrative review of the incident.

Jayland Walker
Jayland Walker

What happened to Jayland Walker?

Police said officers tried to pull Walker over on June 27, 2022, for a traffic violation, but he ignored their commands, beginning a crosstown car chase during which police say Walker fired a single shot out of his driver's side window.

The eight officers pursued him on foot after Walker jumped out of his car. Police say they tried to use Tasers to stop Walker but were unsuccessful. A short time later, police say Walker turned toward the officers, who then opened fire. Walker was unarmed when he was fatally shot, but a gun was found in his vehicle, according to police.

Collectively, the eight officers fired over 90 bullets, striking Walker 46 times.

A person leaves the funeral of Jayland Walker at the Akron Civic Theatre on July 13, 2022, in Akron, Ohio.
A person leaves the funeral of Jayland Walker at the Akron Civic Theatre on July 13, 2022, in Akron, Ohio.

The incident sparked outrage across the city, leading to weeks of protests and demonstrations that occasionally saw clashes between police and demonstrators and damage to several businesses in downtown Akron.

Walker's family filed a federal lawsuit against the city, the eight officers and other police and public officials. The ongoing suit seeks $45 million in damages.

After the incident, the eight officers, seven of whom are white, were placed on administrative leave, and Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett called in the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

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.

Officers brought back to help a police staffing shortage

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 the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and presented by special prosecutors 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.

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.

The next day, Mylett told the Akron Beacon Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, 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 Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation report provided him with nothing to suggest the officers did anything wrong.

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

Doug Livingston reports for the Akron Beacon Journal and Christopher Cann reports for USA TODAY.

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