AKRON, Ohio — The Akron Police Department is conducting an internal use-of-force investigation after a school resource officer assigned to Akron Public Schools punched a Black student in the head multiple times.
Security footage from Firestone Community Learning Center shows the 16-year-old boy bypass metal detectors as he entered the school on Oct. 16, WKYC reports. The teen was directed to pass through the metal detectors several times before attempting to circumvent the SRO and another officer, both of whom are employed by Akron Police. Both officers then grappled with the student but were seemingly able to get his hands behind his back. That’s when the SRO punched the student in the head at least three times.
According to a police report written by the SRO, the school’s principal said over the radio that she was looking for the student because he had not gone through the metal detectors. The principal found the student and she and the SRO walked him back to the detectors. When the student walked through, it “glowed red and beeped,” the report says. The SRO said he then directed the student to go through the detector again but the student “did not immediately listen.”
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“After 25 seconds of fighting, I threw three punches toward the side of [the student’s[ head with my right hand and a closed fist,” the SRO wrote, citing concerns that the student had a weapon and that the fight could escalate with other students around.
No weapon was found on the student, Akron Mayor Shammas Malik said at a news conference last week. The police report says the student had a cell phone on him while he was going through the metal detectors. Students aren’t allowed to bring phones into the school and must store them in a pouch provided by the district.
The student was initially charged with resisting arrest, obstructing official business, and trespassing. The Summit County Prosecutor’s Office agreed to drop the charges without prejudice as the use-of-force investigation takes place. The SRO has been assigned to administrative duty and the other officer is on his regular patrol shift. The Akron Citizens’ Police Oversight Board will conduct an independent investigation once APD completes its internal investigation.
Akron Public Schools Superintendent Calls Incident ‘Unacceptable’
Akron Public Schools Superintendent Michael Robinson said families and staff were informed of the incident the day it occurred. He said he reviewed the surveillance footage and deemed the SRO’s actions “unacceptable.”
Robinson and other APS officials met with Akron Police Chief Brian Harding and city officials on Oct. 17 to discuss the incident and share concerns. The district subsequently requested the SRO be permanently removed from all school duties and asked the city to provide a new candidate for review before a placement is made, according to NBC News.
“We deeply value the partnership we have with law enforcement and the crucial role SROs play in ensuring the safety of our students and building relationships and trust within our community,” Robinson said. “At the same time, it is equally important that accountability is upheld when incidents like this occur. The safety and well-being of our students and staff are our highest priority.”
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The student’s family has retained the same law firm that represented the family of Jayland Walker, a Black man killed when eight Akron police officers fired 94 bullets at him after he shot at least one round out of his car window in June 2022. The city settled with Walker’s family for $4.8 million, Malik said at last week’s news conference.
“He is a child. And no child deserves to be punched in the face by an adult, especially when that adult happens to be an Akron police officer,” said attorney Bobby DiCello. “Arrests by the Akron Police Department must not be a source of needless violence against the men, women, and children of the City of Akron. An arrest must follow proper procedures, not be driven by an officer’s rage, because if we let that rage be the standard that dictates how people in Akron are treated, our Constitution will be torn to shreds.”
Akron NAACP Calls for Police Reform
The Akron NAACP is also questioning the officers’ actions, calling for reform in how Akron Police respond to incidents involving students.
“While we understand the need for safety, we believe that the current model is insufficient and poses risks to students, particularly those from marginalized communities,” the group wrote in a statement. “Officers are not adequately trained in critical areas such as de-escalation, social-emotional learning (SEL), trauma-informed practices, restorative justice, and child development. These skills are essential for creating an educational environment that is just, equitable, and conducive to student growth.”
According to the NAACP, the group’s concerns align with recommendations previously made by Akron youth who advocated for safe learning environments, the Akron Beacon Journal reports. Student leaders from the Youth Participatory Action Research Leaders Project called for better access to mental and behavioral health resources and for schools to adopt practices that emphasize conflict resolution and positive behavioral interventions.
“The NAACP Akron strongly advocates for the reassessment of School Resource Officers (SROs) and partnering SROs with professionals trained in mental health, social work, and restorative practices,” the NAACP wrote. “We urge Akron Public Schools to adopt and implement comprehensive reforms, focusing on creating truly safe and equitable learning environments.”
