AKRON, Ohio — As he completes his final months in office, Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan delivered his last State of the City address Wednesday morning at the John S. Knight Center.
During his speech, Mayor Horrigan touched on the death of Jayland Walker.
“There is no doubt in the days and weeks ahead, this community will need to trust each other more than we ever have as the independent investigations into the death of Jayland Walker become public and the grand jury makes a decision," he said. "I can tell you, the conversations have remained ongoing between my office and leaders in the community since Jayland’s death – and I thank those who have both led those conversations and, most importantly, those who have listened because we have to do both in times like these.”
Walker was shot and killed last June when eight Akron police officers opened fire amid an overnight chase. Police say Walker had fired a shot at one point during a vehicle pursuit, but was unarmed at the time officers opened fire when the chase continued on foot. A gun was later found in Walker's vehicle, according to police.
You can watch Mayor Horrigan's full State of the City address in the video below:
Safety was also a topic of Mayor Horrigan's speech.
“Without safety you have nothing else," Mayor Horrigan said. "You can invest in roads and sewer systems and businesses, but if people don’t feel safe in their communities, nothing else matters.”
He said it's a conversation that has to start in our own homes.
"We cannot demand of our schools and of our teachers to raise our children to know right from wrong," he continued. "That responsibility rests within each and every household and with all of us in this city. We cannot expect the police department to solve the issues within the entirety of Akron. Our city government certainly can’t prevent crime alone. Violence is a complex problem with a myriad of social determinants working together to create the conditions, which people feel violence is the only solution for a way of life. Violence is simply a symptom of systemic inequities. Just like medicine, only treating the symptom will only never cure the disease."
Mayor Horrigan also spoke about the Akron Police Department and its role in safety.
"The Akron Police Department want to serve their communities. They want to serve and protect our residents, and their primary objective is to make our city safer. And like many institutions in our city and across the country, we have to evolve in order to strengthen those police-community relations and address the needs of those who feel left out to help us create a safe city for all of us. One way we can continue to work on this as a city is to continue diversifying our city workforce and our police department. We have to continue to build bridges and have difficult conversations with people who feel like they don’t belong.
You can read the full text from his speech in the document below:
Mayor Horrigan is set to leave office at the end of this year after announcing he would not be seeking a third term in office.
"My reasons are my own, and they are without regret," Horrigan wrote back in October. "It is the honor of my professional lifetime to serve as Akron’s 62nd mayor. It is my intention to complete my second term through December 2023 with the same vigor and integrity that I hope I have displayed so far. There's still more work to be done."
Just two days later, Mayor Horrigan announced who he was endorsing to fill his role.
"Without hesitation, I endorse Marco Sommerville to be the next Mayor of Akron. Marco has been a dedicated public servant in the Akron community for over three decades," Mayor Horrigan said on Oct. 6. "He has proven himself to be a champion of the people, always fighting for justice, equity, and accountability as he worked as a councilman, council president, and in city administration. I consider myself lucky to have had him by my side as Deputy Mayor and Senior Advisor during my tenure as Mayor. I am confident Marco is the best leader for Akron's future and I will proudly cast my vote for him in May."