Paul Hlynsky is the president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #7 in Akron, and a critic of the requirements. He thinks city employees should be able to live where they choose. And, he thinks the rules pose this practical problem for cities: they limit the number of qualified applicants for police jobs.
HLYNSKY: When I took the test to become an Akron police officer, which I’m very proud of, there were 4000 applicants. It took a week to give the test. Recently, there were barely 1000. There are many who don’t apply because of the residency requirements.
Advocates for residency requirements say they protect property tax bases, and ensure that employees have a vested interest in their communities. Debbie Forfia is Akron’s assistant law director
FORFIA: Our police officers, our firefighters, and not just safety officers, need to understand and live with the people they serve.
Others say removing residency requirements could further add to the decline of cities like Cleveland and Akron, as more workers would leave town for the suburbs.
By summer, the Ohio Supreme Court is expected to rule on two cases challenging residency rules in the cities of Lima and Akron.