Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine called the fatal police shooting of Jayland Walker in Akron a "great tragedy" and pushed for police reform that has effectively stalled in the state legislature. 

Akron police officers fatally shot Walker, a 25-year-old Black man, following a car and foot chase on June 27. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost's office is investigating his death.

"Our hearts go out to the family," DeWine said. "It's a great, great, great tragedy."

"I also wanted to thank the family for their very early comments asking for demonstrations to be peaceful and not have more violence," he said.

Akron police shootings: Gruesome videos, Jayland Walker's motions intensify debate; attorney disputes city's claims

After several days of peaceful protests, police arrested 49 people Sunday night following property damage. Officers deployed tear gas to disperse crowds.

Mike DeWine says he has faith in investigation into Jayland Walker's death

DeWine said he had faith in Yost's Bureau of Criminal Investigation to investigate Walker's death. Having a third party investigate police shootings is important to prevent the appearance of impropriety, he said.

“We all want the truth,” Yost said in a statement. ‘When BCI is called upon to investigate an officer’s use of force, our role is to provide an expert, impartial, third-party review – independent of the police and other outside voices.”

DeWine also urged patience with the investigation: "These things take time. They take longer than we would want."

Here are the police reforms that Mike DeWine supports

In addition, DeWine called on Ohio's GOP-controlled Legislature to move forward on police reforms that he pitched after George Floyd's death in May 2020 in Minneapolis. Two GOP lawmakers promised to introduce a bill in April 2021, but that never happened.

Mike Weinman, a lobbyist with the Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio, said he has never seen a final version of the bill.

Their proposed changes included:

• A professional licensing and oversight board for officers.

• A statewide database of officer discipline.

• A statewide database of all use-of-force reports.

• A study committee to find a way to pay for additional mandated training.

DeWine said it was important that police be treated like other professionals. Ohio requires licensing for teachers, nurses, cosmetologists, architects and dozens of other professions. The concept isn't controversial, he said.

"Things that are in this bill are long past due," DeWine said. "It's time."

Reporters Doug Livingston, Stephanie Warsmith, Craig Webb and Laura Bischoff contributed to this article. 

Jessie Balmert is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Akron Beacon Journal, Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus Dispatch and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Mike DeWine reacts to Akron, Ohio police shooting of Jayland Walker