It is possible that the Akron Police Department did not meet a state standard, which could have prevented police pursuits that led to Jayland Walker’s death. Jayland Walker was an unarmed Black man who was gunned down by eight officers.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine had advocated for the standard when he asked an influential board of state police to evaluate vehicle pursuit policies. The recommendations were made by DeWine in 2016, when he was Ohio’s state attorney general.
Although Ohio’s law enforcement agencies do not have to comply with this standard, the state maintains certification processes and keeps track of which departments have met its requirements.
The Ohio Collaborative Community Police Advisory Board has determined that every police department must include a clause in its pursuit policy banning or discouraging car chases, “when the suspect can be identified by officers” to meet the state’s vehicle pursuit standard.
Walker’s family believes that Walker was identified by Akron police who flashed their lights to chase him off a highway onto city streets.
The question is still open as to whether Walker, 25, knew that he was the driver of his car and whether or not they could have identified him as such.
After a brief sprint Walker was forced to turn and face officers. He was then hit with dozens of bullets. Because his body was strewn with bullets, Walker’s body began to twitch on the ground after the first shot was fired.
According to police, they believe he was changing his behavior in an attempt to get rid of him.
Bobby DiCello, an attorney for the Walker family, stated that Akron police knew of Walker’s attempted stoppage by another department the night before the shooting, and had access his license plate number which could have helped them identify him.
According to a police report, Walker’s car was pursued by New Franklin Police Department officers at 2:30 AM, the day before his death.
DiCello stated that he believed Akron officers saw or knew about the car of his client when they first encountered it. He declined to give details.
He said, “They only decided to stop him after running his license plate and finding the New Franklin flag.”
Walker was shot by eight officers, who were placed on administrative leave. Akron cancelled its July Fourth celebration due to protests. Meanwhile, the state attorney general announced that it would open an investigation.
Friday’s request for comment from Akron Police Department regarding Walker’s car and driver was not answered by the Akron Police Department. A spokesperson previously stated that the investigation was ongoing and that no additional information is currently available.
The police pursuit standard is subject to exceptions if the alleged offenders pose a threat to responding officers, themselves, or others.
Akron officers that chased Walker reported hearing a gun fired from Walker’s car 40 seconds into the pursuit. A casing was also found at the scene. Police said that Walker had a loaded handgun and a magazine in his car. However, they didn’t find any firearms on Walker’s body.
DiCello stated that Walker, who didn’t have a criminal history, was in a personal crisis. Akron police officers and other law enforcement officers could have de-escalated matters by realizing Walker might run again.
According to DiCello, the Ohio police board’s standard could have deterred officers from engaging in a chase if Walker was identified.
He said that it was not clear if it was simply because he was afraid or made rash decisions. But it did not result in him getting a death sentence.
Since its introduction three years ago, the state police pursuit certification has been received by about a third of Ohio’s law enforcement agencies (308) This certification is one of the four offered by the policing boards. The others are used of force, community engagement, and bias-free police.
According to the governor’s office, Akron is among eight agencies seeking pursuit certification this year. The current policy for car chase was adopted in 2020.
The certification process is not mandatory for Ohio law enforcement agencies, but the governor’s office stated that it was encouraged.
“Standards could help lead to improved practices,” Dan Tierney (DeWine’s press secretary), said. “When it comes down to law enforcement pursuits there can be tragic or unintended consequences.
“It is important that we provide Ohio law enforcement agencies with the best support possible. This includes a standard to be considered as each agency makes the right decisions for their community.
Rockney Carter, pastor at Zion Baptist Church in Dayton (Ohio), was one of the stakeholders who, in 2016, helped to create DeWine’s recommendations. After a Dayton man was killed in a car chase, the group was formed.
DeWine’s efforts to raise awareness of the issue were appreciated by Carter, who said that the standards would not become statewide requirements. Carter stated that he was still “waiting for Jesus” to bring about real change. He said that it seemed like lawmakers weren’t aiming for more.
He said that these types of rules could give people human rights, so they aren’t treated as animals. “You must enforce rules and ensure that they are applied fairly.”
DiCello went even further and called the current standards “anemic”, “suggestions,” rather than the firm policies required under law.
According to Akron’s current policy, officers must believe that engaging the suspect in a chase is safer than allowing him to “remain at liberty.” Experts disagree with this list, which lists 11 factors that officers should consider before engaging on a chase.
Geoffrey Alpert, an academic at the University of South Carolina, said that Akron’s policy allows you to do almost anything — it’s very vague.” He has been studying police pursuits for many decades and is now a professor of criminal justice. These policies are not my favorite for many reasons. But one reason is that they put the police in the worst possible position.
However, it’s not just an Akron issue. Experts believe there are other institutional issues at play.
DeWine’s 2016 board recommended law enforcement agencies contribute to an statewide database in order to develop best practices. However, this database is still not available.
John DeCarlo, who is a professor of criminal justice at the University of New Haven, and was once chief of police in Connecticut, stated that the same applies to most states.
