Akron police chief allows cops to stop wearing their name tags after the fatal shooting of Jayland Walker, citing threats on social media

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Akron police chief allows cops to stop wearing their name tags after the fatal shooting of Jayland Walker, citing threats on social media
Screenshot of Akron police chief Steve Mylett during a press briefing on July 14.Katie Anthony/Insider
  • Akron's police chief said he's authorized police officers to take off their nametags.
  • The move comes in the wake of the police killing of 25-year-old Jayland Walker after a traffic stop in June.
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The Akron, Ohio, police chief said he is allowing the city's police officers to remove their name tags in the wake of the police killing of 25-year-old Jayland Walker on June 27 that sparked protests in the city.

"Because of the threats that were made against our officers, I authorized them to take off their name tag," Steve Mylett said during a press conference on Thursday.

Mylett alleged "bounties were placed on officers' heads" after photos of police with identifying information began circulating on social media. He said he's instructed police to give people their employee ID number if they're asked to identify themselves.

The Summit County Medical Examiner Lisa Kohler concluded that Walker was shot 46 times by police, she said in a press conference Friday.

Walker was shot by police while being chased on foot by officers after a traffic stop. Video from the encounter shows police chasing him before dozens of gunshots ring out and he falls to the ground.

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Authorities said Walker was unarmed when he was shot, but allege that a shot was fired from his car during a chase.

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