Ohio Court Ruling Keeps Officers' Identities Secret

The family of a 15-year-old fatally shot by an Akron police officer on Thanksgiving is demanding transparency from city officials and accountability for the officer involved. Akron Mayor Shammas Malik stated that the name of the officer will not be released, raising concerns about the incident captured on bodycam footage, where officers did not activate their cameras and delayed providing aid. This shooting follows a recent Ohio Supreme Court ruling allowing Akron to withhold the names of the eight officers involved in the controversial shooting of Jayland Walker in June 2022, as they are considered 'uncharged suspects'. The court acknowledged the potential for federal charges against the officers despite a grand jury declining to indict them, which has prompted ongoing public scrutiny and protests. The Akron Beacon Journal has been involved in legal efforts to obtain records related to both shootings, with varying outcomes regarding the disclosure of officer identities. The legal landscape surrounding police accountability in Akron continues to evolve amidst these high-profile cases and community calls for justice.