The eight officers who fired more than 90 bullets that resulted in the death of 25-year-old Jayland Walker are allowed to go back to work as police officers.
While disappointing, this news is not shocking considering it comes nearly six months after an Ohio grand jury declined to indict the officers involved and concluded that they were justified in their use of deadly force.
In a statement, Akron Capt. Michael Miller said, “all eight officers are back on full-time, active duty,” according to the Associated Press.
Previously, the eight officers were reinstated to active duty in October 2022 but were assigned to desk duty. This latest revelation means the officers are no longer stuck to paperwork and allowed to work out in the field full-time again.
More from the Associated Press on what led to the fatal shooting of Walker in June 2022:
Police said officers tried to pull over Walker’s car for minor equipment violations and that he failed to stop and then fired a shot from the vehicle 40 seconds into the pursuit.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said the state’s investigation found that Walker then jumped out of his still-moving car, ran from police and ignored commands to stop and show his hands. Some of the officers first used Tasers to try and stop Walker, but he reached toward his waistband and raised a hand as officers were chasing, Yost said.
Officers assumed that Walker was armed when in reality, he left his firearm in his car. As a result, all eight officers fired a hail of bullets, hitting him 46 times, which resulted in his death.
In a statement, Bobby DiCello, the attorney for Walker’s family told WKYC-TV, “The Walker family is saddened by the way in which they continue to be ignored by the City of Akron. City leadership has never once reached out to discuss the employment of the eight officers or explain why the officers are being reinstated. While this decision reopens painful wounds for them, the family remains strong in their commitment to seeking Justice and Dignity for Jayland.”
While the officers are allowed back to work, and won’t face any criminal charges, Walker’s family is still looking for some form of justice. In June, they filed a $45 million lawsuit against the Akron Police Department and the city, according to the Associated Press.