Names of cops involved in Jayland Walker shooting can be kept secret,

In a 5-2 decision, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled Friday that Akron police do not have to release the names of eight officers who participated in the high-profile shooting of Jayland Walker.

Walker, 25, was fatally shot more than 40 times by eight Akron police officers on June 27, 2022, after a car and foot chase for an equipment violation. He was unarmed during the shooting, but police said he fired a shot from his vehicle less than a minute into the chase. A handgun was found in his vehicle.

The shooting death led to protests and arrests of demonstrators.

The day after the shooting, the Akron Beacon Journal requested multiple records including personnel files for officers placed on leave pending the investigation. The city provided most of the requested information but withheld the names of officers involved.

The supreme court said that state law contains an exemption for confidential investigative information that would likely disclose the names of uncharged suspects.

Although a state grand jury declined to indict the eight, they could face federal charges in the future, the court said.

The ruling also found that the Akron Beacon Journal is entitled to the names of officers involved in two other police shootings:

In December 2021, police shot and killed James Gross. In February 2022, the newspaper requested the names of officers involved.
In March 2022, police killed Lawrence Rodgers. The newspaper requested more records.

The names of officers who are not criminal suspects must be provided to the newspaper, the court said.

Justices Patrick F. Fischer, R. Patrick DeWine, Melody Stewart, and Joseph T. Deters joined the per curiam opinion. Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy concurred in judgment only. Justices Michael Donnelly and Jennifer Brunner dissented.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Ohio Supreme Court rules Akron can withhold cop names in shooting case

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