On September 9, 2008, I issued Executive Order #7-2008 (472k pdf) that set forth in detail in four, single-spaced pages, the exact description of the Auditor’s duties and the responsibilities of the office in relation to the Akron Police Department.

For the last six months or more, the City has been working with the Office of the Ohio Attorney General and the U.S. Department of Justice to improve the recruitment of officers, their hiring and training; and the investigatory process with respect to use of force. At the suggestion of their experts, these discussions were not made public.

Residents who believe that the city has not been responsive to concerns with regard to the use of force by police, have not had the benefit of knowing about the work in which we have been quietly engaged.

This is a complex issue. In creating the position of Police Auditor without the benefit of precedent, I understand that misunderstandings may have occurred.

My written order of September 9 attempted to clarify the role of the Auditor, and we are committed to continue our work with state and federal agencies to improve our policies and make more transparent our response to incidents of use of force if they should arise in the future.

Executive Order #7-2008 (472k pdf)