City of Akron Seeks Public Comment on Draft Public Order Policy

Today, the City of Akron has released a draft public order policy which can be found here.  The city is now seeking public comments on the draft policy. Comments can be sent to crowdpolicy@akronohio.gov or they can be left on the public dashboard at AkronOhio.gov/Engage. They can also be sent via mail to Attn: Public Order Policy, City of Akron Law Department, 172 S. Broadway, Suite 200, Akron, OH 44308. The public comment period will be open for 60 days until Friday, August 15, 2025.

Last year, the City of Akron settled a lawsuit filed by the Akron Bail Fund, a non-profit organization, regarding an incident which took place in 2023.  Mayor Malik has made clear his intention to work with the Akron Police Department to update various departmental policies, including those related to mass gatherings.  Thus, as part of the settlement, the city agreed to update and implement policies surrounding crowd management. The city contracted with Spencer Fomby with Law Enforcement Tactical Consultants who specializes in this type of work to help develop a new public order policy for the city based on best practices and community feedback.  In February, the city held a community forum to hear from residents directly regarding what should be considered as Mr. Fomby was drafting the new policy. He used that feedback and his expertise to draft the new policy here.

“Over the weekend, we saw residents across our community and our country peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights to make their voices heard,” said Mayor Malik. “I was incredibly proud of our community, and I believe that here in Akron, the vast majority of gatherings like this remain peaceful. During the limited times when intervention is required for public safety, this new policy will guide the actions of our officers and will create mutual understanding with our residents on their rights and when a gathering could become unlawful. I’d encourage everyone to read the draft policy and offer their feedback on this during our public comment period.”

The public comment period is open now for the next 60 days, closing on Friday, August 15, 2025.