Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic and Police Union Sparring Over Bar Fight

Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic and his cities police force are at each others throats. The incident stems from a bar fight that Plusquellic witnessed in the early morning on Sunday. The Akron Beacon Journal writes:

Plusquellic and others called 911 around 2:30 a.m. Sunday to report a fight involving many people that had spilled outside the Lux Nightclub near West Exchange and South Main streets.

A 22-year-old man had been hit and kicked in the head and was unconscious.

The mayor, who has a rocky relationship with the police union, said he had just left Bricco after having a few drinks when he encountered the fight. He said he called 911 twice and was put on hold before talking with a dispatcher.

He said he was irritated that he couldn't get through to authorities, and that officers who arrived at the scene were arrogant and dismissive as he tried to point out individuals they should interview.

‘‘They acted like I was bothering them and basically said stay out of it,’’ Plusquellic said.

He said he identified two key witnesses for police that they wouldn't have interviewed if not for his persistence. He also said he thought the man kicked in the head could die from his injuries and he didn't want police to botch the investigation as they had done when they failed to thoroughly investigate a recent beating in Firestone Park.

The police union wants an apology and said he could have been arrested for his behavior. WKYC writes:

By police accounts an Akron dispatcher got an earful from Mayor Plusquellic when he called to report a fight in front of Lux bar on West Exchange street.

"He has disciplined officers for using that language now here he is apparently using that language," F.O.P. President Paul Hlynsky said.

President Paul Hlynsky says the mayor's sharp tongue did not dull when officers arrived on scene. Plusquellic withstood a recall election in June.

The Akron Beacon Journal has the entire 911 transcripts from the exchange from this weekend for more on the story.

They could have easily put him in handcuffs for being belligerent and cussing at people, cussing at the officers," Hlynsky said.

This has been a rocky year for the Mayor of the Rubber City. The 60 year old survived a recall vote earlier this year.

For more on the story, check out the Beacon Journal's 911 transcript of the exchange between the dispatcher and the Mayor.