Officer Fired, City Pays
Ohio City Fires Officer for Policy Violations, Settles $4.75M Lawsuit with Teen's Family
Akron, Ohio, has fired police officer Davon Fields and agreed to pay $4.75 million to the family of Jazmir Tucker, a 15-year-old boy Fields shot and killed in 2024, according to KTAR. The settlement still needs a judge's approval before the money changes hands.
Fields was fired for multiple policy violations, including failing to properly provide medical aid after the shooting and breaking the department's rules on body-worn cameras, MyNorthwest reported. Police said Tucker was carrying a loaded weapon when he was shot.
Officer Fired Over Medical Aid and Camera Failures
The Akron Police Department fired Davon Fields after finding he broke several department policies. Two key violations stood out. First, Fields failed to properly provide medical aid to Tucker after shooting him. Second, he violated the department's body-worn camera policy, according to News4Jax.
Body-worn cameras are meant to record police interactions. Failing to follow camera rules can hide key evidence. The exact nature of Fields' camera violation has not been fully detailed in public reports, Times Union noted.
Grand Jury Cleared Fields But City Still Acted
A grand jury decided not to indict Fields about a year ago. That means he faced no criminal charges for Tucker's death. But a grand jury decision does not prevent a city from taking its own action against an officer, Click Orlando reported.
Akron moved forward with the firing through its own internal process. The city also chose to settle the Tucker family's lawsuit for $4.75 million rather than fight it in court, WSB-TV reported.
Police Union Vows to Fight the Firing
Brian Lucey, the head of Akron's police union, plans to fight Fields' firing. Unions often challenge terminations through a formal appeals process called arbitration, where a neutral third party reviews the case. Lucey has not said publicly what grounds he will use to appeal, according to WOKV.
The fight could take months or even years to resolve. If the union wins, Fields could get his job back or receive back pay. The outcome will depend on what an arbitrator decides.
$4.75 Million Settlement Still Needs Judge's Approval
The city of Akron agreed to pay Tucker's family $4.75 million to settle their lawsuit. But the deal is not final yet. A judge must approve the settlement before any money is paid, Bangor Daily News reported.
The Tucker family filed the lawsuit after the 2024 shooting. Civil lawsuits allow families to seek financial accountability even when no criminal charges are filed. The $4.75 million figure is one of the larger police shooting settlements seen in Ohio in recent years.
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