Protestors take to the streets of Akron demanding justice for Jayland Walker who was shot to death in a hail of bullets by 8 Akron police officers after a car chase in 2022.WASHINGTON, D. C. - Two years after 25-year-old Jayland Walker was fatally shot by Akron police, U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes introduced bipartisan legislation that she hopes will improve community-police relations and avoid further tragedies by providing police with better training.
Covered topics would include improving community-police relations; officer and community safety; situational awareness; physical and emotional responses to stress; critical decision-making and problem solving; de-escalation and use of force; and crisis intervention, Sykes’ office said. She introduced the bill with Democratic Maryland Rep. Glenn Ivey, and Republicans Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Don Bacon of Nebraska. Organizations including the national Fraternal Order of Police, the Akron NAACP, and the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association support the legislation.Arming our law enforcement with de-escalation skills is necessary for when they encounter those who may be suffering from mental illness or suicidal tendencies,” said a statement from Bacon.
Walker’s death pushed Akron into the nation’s conversation of police accountability and led to months of protests over police brutality, specifically against Black Americans. A special grand juryTyson was accused of driving his car into a pole and fleeing the scene. Afterward, police say, Tyson ran to an AMVETS facility and refused to leave. As police approached Tyson, he pulled away, knocking over barstools and shouting, “get the sheriff.