Former Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic won't run against current Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan in the Democratic primary, but he says he's thinking about running in the general election--as an Independent.
Listen here to this live, exclusive interview on the Ray Horner Show.
Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan has announced changes to the process for recruiting police, fire, and EMS, including an increase in the maximum age for new hires.
As of Monday, the maximum age to be hired as a police officer is up from 35 to 40, while the max age to be hired as a firefighters is now 35, up from 31. Also on Monday, thanks to funding from Issue 4, the Akron Police Department is able to host an in-house police academy, opposed to farming out the academy to other departments, including Columbus, as they've done since 2008.
The minimum wage for new recruits has gone up to $26.22 per hour, according to the press release (read below), thus making the job more attractive to young and older cadets.
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Akron, Ohio, February 4, 2019 – Today, Mayor Horrigan is announcing several changes to the process for recruiting police officers and firefighter/medics, including increasing the maximum age for new hires and bringing the police academy back in-house.
“As a city, we are competing for qualified candidates for public safety positions, and I am committed to attracting and retaining the most qualified, diverse, and dedicated personnel to Akron,” Mayor Horrigan said. “These changes are designed to widen and deepen the pool of potential candidates and make the process more accessible.”
First, the Department of Human Resources will be increasing the maximum hiring age for an Akron police officer to 40 years of age (from 35), and the maximum hiring age for an Akron firefighter/medic to 35 years of age (from 31).
“Expanding the age range for qualified candidates will help us recruit individuals who may be pursuing a second career or who have recently retired from the military,” Akron Police Chief Ken Ball said. “More mature applicants are likely to have an increased sense of purpose, greater life experiences and deeper community ties that can help them succeed in serving our neighborhoods.”
In addition to expanding eligibility, the City will once again be hosting a Peace Officer Basic Training Academy for new police recruits.
Due to funding restraints, the City stopped holding an internal police academy in 2008. Instead, for several years the City sent new recruits to Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC) academies hosted by other agencies. New recruits would not be formally hired or receive a paycheck from the City until after they graduated with their OPOTA certification (approximately 24 weeks). The financial burden of this unpaid training period discouraged or prevented some recruits from pursuing a career as an Akron police officer.
“We knew that a lack of an internal police academy was negatively impacting our ability to recruit qualified, diverse candidates,” Mayor Horrigan said. “We knew we had to do something. Thankfully, the funds provided by Issue 4 will help us once again host a police academy and compensate our new recruits appropriately.” Now, new APD recruits will be hired by the City and paid a starting wage of $26.22/hour from the first day of the training academy.
The next entrance exam for Akron police officers is slated for April 2019. The next entrance exam for Akron firefighters will likely be held this fall.
“Making these changes demonstrates that we are serious about building public safety forces that better reflect the diversity of our community,” Council President Margo Sommerville said. “I look forward to working with the administration to continue to improve our recruiting strategies and policies to compete for the best candidates available.”
Akron Police are investigating one attempted robbery and another actual robbery, both committed Friday night within a couple of hours of one another and within just about 5 miles of one another, too.
First, just after 7 o'clock Friday night, a man wearing a ski mask walked into Two Monk's Brewery Company at 352 Massillon Road. Walking toward the bar, and motioning to his waistband like he was pulling out a knife, demanded money. That's when the bar owner pulled a handgun and the suspect fled.
Later Friday, at about 9:30, a suspect walked into Italo's at 1910 Brown Street, jumped the counter, and actually pulled a knife, demanding money from the register. In the second robbery, the suspect did get away with an undisclosed amount of cash.
According to the police report, though, APD says that during the second robbery the suspect dropped the knife inside the restaurant.
It's hard to get a spot-on description, given the suspect was wearing a mask in both incidents, but APD has released a description of a black male, between 18 and 23, wearing a black mask, all black clothing, standing between 5'10" and 6'.
Anyone with information is asked to call Akron Police at 330-375-2490.
This Week in Tech with Jeanne Destro-2-1-19 Featured
Written by Jeanne Destro
This week, hackers making headlines again, with a Cyber attack on the City of Akron, and out in California; sending scary messages through home security systems. We’ll also learn about a new super adhesive inspired by Gecko feet, drones that can fill potholes, and toasty new technology that can keep you warm even on the coldest days of winter.
***Please note: This show is now available as a podcast on Apple and Android devices. To find out how, follow these links: Apple, or Android
Student Athletes of the Week Nicole Lester and Nate Dobben
Written by Aaron ColemanThis week our 1590 WAKR Female Student Athlete of the Week is Nicole Lester, a senior basketball player from Norton High School.
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A recall of infant ibuprofen has been expanded by Tris Pharma Incorporated, according to a report.
The New Jersey-based pharmaceutical company first recalled the infant ibuprofen drops back in November last year due to a higher concentration of ibuprofen in the drug than it was labeled, some doses as high as 10 percent above the advertised limit.
The affected medicine is Infants' Ibuprofen Oral Suspension Drops, USP, 50 milligrams per 1.25 milliliters.
See more at WKYC.com.
USPS Cancels Some NEO Postal Services Amid Cold
Written by Ryan LangThe United States Postal Service announced Tuesday night that carriers covering certain parts of Northeast Ohio and beyond will not deliver mail Wednesday, January 30th, as high temperatures are not even expected to hit zero degrees in most areas.
Areas with the following 3-digit zip code beginnings will not be serviced: 441,458, 452, 430-432.
Akron Mayor On Possible Plusquellic Challenge
Written by Jeanne DestroAkron Mayor Dan Horrigan is responding to the possibility that former Mayor Don Plusquellic might run against him, noting in part that Plusquellic's "bitterness and stale personal feudes with council members, the local paper, and even federal decision makers poisoned his ability to lead the city".But he says, he says he's "proud of the reinvigorated energy and strategic focus" of his administration, and that he "welcomes the opportunity to compare his record and vision against any challenger."
Plusquellic told the Akron Beacon Journal he's considering a run for the job he held for 28 years. But, if he plans to challenge Horrigan in the May Primary; he's got until next Wednesday, February 6th, to file with the Board of Elections.