Akron Mayor, Dan Horrigan, has announced that the City's Police Chief, Steve Mylett, is retiring, and leaving the department as of January 1, 2024.

In a press release, Horrigan says Mylett, who was chosen to lead the Akron Police Department in 2021, plans to leave policing for a job in the private sector.

“I want to thank Chief Mylett for his outstanding, dedicated service to our community through a very trying time,” said Mayor Horrigan. “I know Steve to be a man of honor with the utmost care for the communities he has served. Akron was lucky to have him at the helm, and I am grateful to have had him by my side through the last two years. I wish him and his family the best in their future endeavors.”

“It is with great difficulty that I make this decision to step away, but I do think the time is right based on many different factors,” said Chief Mylett. “I am proud to end my 35 years in policing here in Akron. I want to thank Mayor Horrigan for the privileged opportunity to lead the men and women of the Akron Police Department. I also want to thank the APD employees for welcoming me into the Department and for the exceptional work they do every day – I am proud to be called a member of this agency. Additionally, I want to thank the Akron community for embracing my family and I as we settled in this beautiful city.

“This past year has been very difficult for many, many people, and the road ahead to regain what was lost will be no easy feat. However, I hold tremendous optimism for the future of this city, and I know everyone in this city wants a safe and secure Akron in order to raise our families and to live in peace. Together, we can achieve our vision.”

Mylett's departure comes after a particularly tumultous period of time for the Akron Police Department, as the city erupted in repeated protests and some violence after police shot and killed Jayland Walker, on June 27, 2022.

Police said at the time, and a State Bureau of Criminal investigations inquiry confirmed, that Walker fled a traffic stop, pulled into a parking lot, ran from police while wearing a ski mask, then turned and made what police interpreted as a "threatening" gesture.

Eight police officers then opened fire, Walker died in a hail of bullets, and it was only after he was shot, that police discovered his gun was still inside his car, and he was unarmed when they shot him.

The City is now facing a multi-million dollar wrongful death lawsuit filed by Walker's family, who contend that police violated Jayland's civil rights, despite the fact that the special grand jury convened to look into the matter, decided not to return any criminal indictments against the officers involved in the shooting.

Mylett faced extensive criticism from some members of the community for his actions after the shooting, including never publicly revealing the names of the officers involved, because they and their families have been the targets of numerous death threats. In the weeks just after the shooting, Mylett also told officers to remove their name tags, and to only display their badges and identification numbers to citizens, also, he said, as a means to protect officers from harm.

How police responded to public protests, was also a source of controversy, when police used tear gas to disperse a big crowd on Copley Road in West Akron, on April 23, 2023 .

Mylett's response at the time, was that his officers were justified in their response because some protesters were throwing rocks and bottles at them. But, the city did then later agree to limit the use of such crowd dispersal agents, and to change their tactics when dealing with non-violent protesters, in response to a temporary restraining order filed by the Akron Bail Fund.

Mayor Horrigan says he plans to work with presumptive Mayor Shammus Malik's transition team regarding a search for the next police chief. The next Mayor will have the opportunity to lead a search and select the next head of the Akron Police Department. 

Meanwhile, Malik, who is running unopposed in November; had this response:

"I want to thank Chief Mylett for his service to our community over these last two years, and I wish him well in his next steps.  In the coming weeks, our transition team will work in partnership with Mayor Horrigan’s administration to begin a search process for the next chief of the Akron Police Department, which will be open to internal and external candidates. "

"Safety will be my administration’s top priority. A  central goal of my administration will be making sure the Akron Police Department is an effective, forward-focused organization, able to respond to calls for service while also prioritizing proactive, community-based policing. That means building trust through transparency and accountability, and also focusing on retention and attraction of officers to ensure our safety forces have the training, support, and work environment they need to be successful. I look forward to working in partnership with every member of the Akron Police Department, as well as our entire community, to create a safer Akron."

A school bus carrying 19 Marlington High School and Middle School students overturned into a ditch yesterday afternoon on Columbus Road NE. 

The Beacon Journal reports that no one was seriously injured in the one-vehicle crash, but 5 students and the driver were taken to local hospitals for minor injuries. 

The Ohio State Highway patrol is investigating the circumstances of the crash and says they have cited the bus driver, a 58-year-old Lake Township woman with failure to control a motor vehicle.

Meanwhile in Columbus, the new Ohio School Bus Safety Working Group held their first meeting with Governor Mike DeWine in attendance. DeWine formed the group to examine school transportation safety following the Clark County school bus crash in August that killed an 11-year-old boy. 

The Capital Journal reports that the 15-member group is tasked with looking at school bus regulations, school bus seat belts, and crash risk factors, among other things and is expected to make their recommendations at the end of the year. 

And in D.C., U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) has taken the bus safety issue national, introducing a School Bus Safety Act to congress last week, a bill that would implement safety recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board, including requiring seat belts on buses.

Summit County Council took action Monday, Sept. 11, to honor Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, which celebrated its 125th anniversary last month.

In a press release, council officials note that as one of the world’s largest tire companies, employing nearly 72,000 people and manufacturing products at 57 factories in 23 nations around the globe; Goodyear continues to be a major employer in Akron with more than 2,500 workers. The tire giant also produces and sells a wide variety of other products made from rubber, chemicals, and plastics for the transportation industry including automotive and industrial belts and hoses, molded products, and foam cushioning accessories. In addition, Goodyear provides auto repairs and services through a network of several hundred retail outlets.

“The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company has become synonymous with Akron and Summit County and we are very proud of the tremendous impact this international conglomerate has had on not only our local economy but the automotive and transportation industry worldwide. We congratulate them on 125 years and wish them continued success in the years to come,” concluded Councilman John Schmidt (District 2) who presented the Commendation to Goodyear Director of Community Affairs and Engagement, Joni Fitch.

Founded on August 29, 1898, by Akron brothers F.A. and C.W. Seiberling, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company began as a manufacturer of bicycle and carriage tires. F.A. borrowed $3,500 — about $126,000 today — from brother-in-law Lucius Miles to make the down payment on an old strawboard factory along the Little Cuyahoga River in East Akron for Goodyear’s first plant. Goodyear was established at the dawn of the automobile age and Akron became the “Rubber Capital of the World.” In the early 20th century, automakers built cars on Akron tires and generations of families were employed in the rubber factories. Goodyear quickly became the leader in the development, manufacturing, distribution, and sale of tires throughout the world. Today, the company continues to be an innovator in tire production and technology, now introducing a self-regenerating concept tire with artificial intelligence features that allow the tire treads to change according to the environment and climate. The technology also uses sensors to learn from driver behavior.

 In 2015, Goodyear completed a $160 million corporate headquarters along Innovation Way not far from the original factory in East Akron. The Goodyear blimp, based at Wingfoot Lake, remains a symbol of local pride and most recently, atop the old Goodyear Hall on East Market Street, the iconic Goodyear sign, featuring nearly 1200 bulbs, was restored to once again light up the night skyline of Akron.

For more information, contact the Summit County Council office at 330-643-2725.

The FDA has approved an updated Covid-19 shot that targets current strands of the virus. Summit County Health Commissioner, Donna Skoda, joined the Ray Horner Morning show to talk about the timeline of the booster, cost, distribution, and more. She also discusses the current uptick in cases, getting all of your vaccines (Flu, Covid, RSV), and more!