Akron chief under consideration for neighboring township's police top post
Akron Police Chief Brian Harding is a candidate to lead the Copley Township Police Department, marking a potential leadership change that would affect policing in Akron as it continues to contend with internal reviews and legal matters stemming from a 2024 officer-involved death.
Copley Township Administrator Greg Tracey confirmed to Signal Akron that Harding submitted an application and "is under consideration for the position." The township has engaged the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police to assist with candidate assessment and said it expects to select a new chief by September.
Harding was sworn in as Akron’s chief in May 2024 after serving decades in the Akron Police Department (APD). His candidacy for the Copley post comes amid heightened scrutiny of APD: a recent, anticipated use-of-force review flagged significant problems in the department, and the mayor’s office has been pursuing disciplinary action against an officer involved in a fatal 2024 shooting that prompted a lawsuit.
Those cases include the mayor’s effort to terminate Officer Davon Fields and the city’s work toward settling the lawsuit brought by the family of 15-year-old Jazmir Tucker, who was killed in 2024. The developments have contributed to staff and morale shifts within APD leadership.
Compared with Akron, which has a substantially larger sworn force, Copley Township operates a much smaller department. The township’s police complement is roughly 30 officers, while Akron’s force numbers about 446 sworn officers with an additional 37 civilian staff.
| Department | Sworn officers | Civilian staff |
|---|---|---|
| Akron Police Department | 446 | 37 |
| Copley Township Police | ~30 | — |
Within APD, rumors that Harding was exploring other opportunities had circulated for weeks among officers and at City Hall before the township confirmed his application. The Akron mayor’s office declined to comment on Harding’s candidacy when asked.
Harding’s potential departure would come on the heels of another senior change: Deputy Chief Jesse Leeser, who was one of the two finalists when Harding was selected in 2024, announced his retirement to APD personnel. Leeser spent more than 30 years with the department and most recently commanded the uniform subdivision.
- Selection timeline: Copley Township expects to pick a chief by September after assessments by the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police.
- Local staffing contrast: Akron’s police force is more than an order of magnitude larger than Copley’s.
- Ongoing issues in Akron: internal use-of-force review and litigation related to a 2024 officer-involved death.
"Brian Harding did apply for the position of Chief of Police for Copley Township and is under consideration for the position," said Copley Township Administrator Greg Tracey.
If Akron loses its chief, city leaders would need to address succession amid an active review and legal matters that touch public trust and departmental practices. The process in Copley will involve external assessment of finalists, and a decision by the township is anticipated in coming weeks.
For Akron residents, the possibility of another leadership change raises questions about continuity in reform efforts and how the police department will manage ongoing personnel transitions while addressing findings from the use-of-force review and responding to community concerns tied to the 2024 incident.
Updates to Harding’s candidacy and any official appointments in Copley Township or Akron will be monitored and reported as they develop.
