AKRON, Ohio (WJW) – Akron Mayor Shammas Malik says threats have been made to the entire Akron Police Department.
The threats follow the police shooting death of 15-year-old Jazmir Tucker . The Akron teen was killed by police on Thanksgiving. The teen was armed.
Malik said in a Facebook post he’s been made aware of “threats against specific officers and the entire police department.”
The president of the Akron Police Department, Brian Lucey, previously told the FOX 8 I-Team that there had been veiled threats against officers.
“Individuals on Facebook have made veiled threats or vague threats, stating that ‘let us find out and the officers will pay’ and they use the little blood drop emojis. People have posted pictures of addresses and homes,” Lucey told the I-Team .
Mayor Malik says they are investigating the threats.
“When tragedies like this occur, our city government has a responsibility to be transparent in sharing information and records, and we also have a responsibility to the safety of our employees and their families and I take both of these with the utmost seriousness. As we continue to release records in response to this incident, we will also continue to evaluate any and all threats, and where they constitute criminal conduct, we will work to hold those making threats accountable,” he wrote in a social media post .