Akron Council Members Demand Accountability After Report on Former Police Lieutenant

A Signal Akron report on former Akron Police Lt. Mark Ferrar dominated public comment and the Good and Welfare portion of Akron City Council’s June 1 meeting, with residents and council members calling for stronger accountability within the police department. What the Report Described The article, published before the meeting, detailed how Ferrar operated an off-duty secondary employment scheme that defrauded multiple businesses. He retired before formal discipline could be completed. Ferrar later pled no contest to a criminal charge, received a misdemeanor conviction, and was ordered to pay restitution. Residents Speak Out During public comment, residents questioned why a uniformed lieutenant who defrauded multiple businesses received a misdemeanor while city workers facing similar allegations received felony charges. One speaker addressed the disparity directly: “He had to pay back maybe a tenth of what he ended up swiping from hardworking Akronites. Meanwhile, civilians who worked for the city now have felonies on their records.” Another resident raised a separate ongoing concern about Officer Devon Fields, who has been involved in multiple use-of-force incidents and is currently on paid leave related to a sexual assault allegation. Mayor Responds Mayor Shammas Malik addressed the Ferrar situation after council comments. He said the Akron Police Department investigated the conduct and that Ferrar’s resignation did not halt the criminal inquiry. “There is no situation in which his pension could have been taken by firing him versus him resigning,” Malik said, clarifying a point raised during public comment. He added that businesses that declined to cooperate with investigators limited the scope of what charges could be filed, which is why the case did not rise to a felony. Malik said he did not view the outcome as a good one, but wanted the public to understand what the city could and could not control. Council Members Push Back Councilman Eric Garrett offered sharp criticism, saying his constituents are calling him about a lack of institutional control. “The minute you become numb to it, the minute you say it is okay, it is not okay,” Garrett said. He called for the police chief to be held more directly accountable and said reforms like eliminating head strikes need to happen immediately rather than through a prolonged process. Councilman Mark Greer said accountability and transparency are the foundation of public trust. “The lack thereof are the two biggest underminers of trust,” Greer said. Council President Raises Process Concern Council President Margo Sommerville said it was unacceptable that council members learned about the Ferrar situation through the press at the same time as the general public. “That is not partnership. That is not collaboration,” Sommerville said. Mayor Notes Reforms Already Underway Malik said the city has already implemented limits on head strikes as part of an ongoing use-of-force review and that the off-duty secondary employment program will be re-evaluated. He said he has spoken with the mayor of Athens about protections for transgender residents and signaled potential action on that front as well. Photo: City of Akron City Council