Latest news with #Akers
USA Today
2 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Saints try out former Rams Super Bowl champ, Vikings and Texans RB Cam Akers
Saints try out former Rams Super Bowl champ, Vikings and Texans RB Cam Akers It might be now or never for the former five-star recruit This could be interesting. The New Orleans Saints are trying out a big-name running back at this week's mandatory minicamp practices, per Nick Underhill. Cam Akers didn't meet expectations as a former second-round pick with the Los Angeles Rams (out of Florida State), and he struggled to get going last year with the Minnesota Vikings and Houston Texans, so this may be his last opportunity to catch on with a new team and revitalize his career. It's not uncommon for teams to bring in free agents for tryouts like this at the start of the summer; the Saints did just that with another running back, David Johnson, a few years back. But Akers still has a lot of tread left on his tires. He'll turn 26 on June 22 and has only logged 502 carries in his five-year pro career. He's clearly very talented as a former five-star high school recruit. He just hasn't been able to put it together in the NFL. And it might be now or never for him. He's been traded in each of the last two seasons, from the Rams to the Vikings and from Minnesota to Houston, without ever establishing himself as his new team's top option. But the Saints don't need him to do that. They just need to see whether he can be an effective compliment to Alvin Kamara. They brought back guys like Kendre Miller and Clyde Edwards-Helaire while adding rookies Devin Neal and Marcus Yarns to that competition, plus Velus Jones Jr. and Xazavian Valladay. They were in on Nick Chubb before he signed with the Texans, too. Maybe Akers shows them something they'll like in this extended tryout.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Missouri teen charged with robbery after boarding school bus, demanding money from kids
LAWRENCE COUNTY, Mo. — An Aurora man is in custody after allegedly walking onto a bus with juveniles and demanding money last month. According to the Aurora-Marionville Police Department, Zachary Akers, 18, walked onto an Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation (OACAC) school bus carrying 13 juveniles and demanded money on May 8. Missouri teen charged with robbery after boarding school bus, demanding money from kids Couple accused of stealing 1/4 of a million from elderly woman to face trial Missouri drug bust reveals stolen motorcycles and a meth distribution operation, police say Southeast Kansas sheriff quips, 'We saved the 4th of July' A probable cause statement filed Tuesday says Akers was told by a victim he would need to go to the OACAC office for that. Angered, Akers allegedly punched the school bus and exited, screaming profanities at two of the people aboard the bus and flipping them off. A warrant for Akers' arrest was issued Wednesday and served later that day. Akers was arrested and booked in the Lawrence County Jail on one charge of first-degree robbery. He was denied bond and ordered to have no contact with the alleged victims through any means. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Springfield Police Department marks fifth anniversary of body-worn camera program
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The Springfield Police Department marked the fifth anniversary of its body-worn camera (BWC) program, celebrating a milestone in transparency, accountability, and public safety. Launched during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic on June 3, 2020, Springfield's program made the city the first major municipality in Massachusetts to implement a body-worn camera system fully. These federal arrest warrant letters deemed fake in Massachusetts All sworn officers and supervisors, just under 500, are equipped with cameras during duty, contributing to over 115,000 hours of recorded footage to date. Police Superintendent Lawrence E. Akers said the cameras have made a significant difference in community relations and policing outcomes. 'The body cameras help us in several different areas, from police-community relations to aiding prosecutions by the District Attorney's Office,' said Akers. 'The use of the cameras has increased our officers' accountability and decreased the amount of citizen complaints we receive. Body-worn cameras are an essential tool to continue to build trust within our community. There was a time I couldn't imagine having to wear body cameras, now, especially for our younger officers, I can't imagine a time they wouldn't want to wear them.' Mayor Domenic J. Sarno credited the program with strengthening public trust and modernizing law enforcement efforts in Springfield. 'I want to commend our Springfield Police Department, led by Superintendent Larry Akers, for their continued belief, support, and investment in our body-worn camera program,' Sarno said. 'All officers and supervisors, totaling just under 500, now wear the body-worn cameras, which have greatly enhanced our public safety aspects and brought increased transparency and accountability on police and public interactions, including hours of video footage of our brave and dedicated police officers saving lives.' The program began with 12 officers and supervisors who were first outfitted with Getac body-worn cameras in June 2020. By October of the same year, the entire department was equipped and trained. Now, the training is fully integrated into the Springfield Police Academy's curriculum, ensuring that recruits are ready to use the technology immediately upon graduation. In spring 2025, the department transitioned from Getac cameras to Axon body-worn cameras, continuing its commitment to using up-to-date technology. Uninformed officers are required to keep their cameras on throughout their shifts, with automatic activation triggered by the activation of emergency vehicle lights or manual activation by the officer. Each device captures footage beginning 30 seconds before activation, with audio recording starting at the time of activation. However, there are specific limitations in place to protect privacy. Officers do not use the cameras inside schools (except the Quebec Unit), during certain medical emergencies, in private residences without permission or a warrant, or when dealing with confidential informants. Additionally, the devices do not have facial recognition or night vision capabilities. As the department moves forward, the body-worn camera program will remain a core component of its strategy to foster trust and transparency between officers and the community. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mirror
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Quadruple-winning Arsenal manager hoping for miracle in women's Champions League
Former Arsenal Women's manager Vic Akers hopes the Gunners will emulate his team when they face Barcelona in the women's Champions League final in Lisbon this weekend Vic Akers is full of pride when he sees thousands of fans flocking to Arsenal WSL games at the Emirates. It is a long way from his very early days in charge when his players would have to pay Sunday League style subs just to hire the pitches. Akers hopes Arsenal's current generation will emulate his team when they face Barcelona in the women's Champions League final in Lisbon this weekend. Arsenal were the first and so far only British side to conquer Europe. But there is a unique piece of history from that success - when his Arsenal side won an unprecedented quadruple back in 2007 - which he thinks will never be beaten. Akers said: 'I don't think anyone will repeat what we did by winning all four. And I take immense pride about it. "We grew the game. It gives me so much pride when I go to games at the Emirates now and see thousands of people walking up to the stadium. 'Barcelona are the best team, in my view. By far. They took Chelsea apart in the semi final. They pop it around the pitch, they are so well coached. But you never know - it's a one-off game and anything is possible.' Akers worked miracles during his 22 year stint as Arsenal manager while combining his role as kit man for the men's first team. Not only did he take Arsenal's women to the top but he also put the whole women's game on the map. It started from humble beginnings - players paying their own subs - and today's generation is reaping the benefits. 'The girls paid to play, we had to pay for pitches, I had very little money from the club at that point, it changed in the 90s,' said Akers. ' Arsene Wenger was fabulous, the players were supportive and the gaffer was brilliant,' said Akers, who turns 79 in August. 'The gaffer was right behind it, David Dein was so supportive and it's just brilliant to see what's happened to the game and very nice to hear get some recognition along the way. The club have invited me to Lisbon which is a nice touch.' Akers' team won the lot in 2007 but their hardest task was Swedish side Umea in a two-legged final. They won away from home 1-0 thanks to Alex Scott's goal, held them at home and lifted the trophy. And they did it all without Kelly Smith who Akers regarded as the best player in the world at that time. Smith was sent off after being kicked from pillar to post in the semi final with Brondby and she finally snapped and got sent off. But Akers' secret to success was to opt to play at Borehamwood rather than the Emirates and also work a tactical masterplan to cope without Smith. Akers said: 'I gave the players the option because we'd been told we could play at the Emirates. I left it to them to decide with a vote. My feeling was that we had a better chance at Borehamwood. 'It's the closeness of the supporters at Borehamwood, it's further away at the Emirates and I don't think we would have filled it back then, even though the game is changing now. It gave us a better atmosphere, the crowd was on top of the players and the opposition didn't like it. They had a running track, astroturf and a very different ground. Their crowd couldn't get to us and that's why we did so well over there. 'You know you have to work double hard, everyone else has to contain them and I knew goals would be hard to get. We had to get numbers behind the ball, then all of a sudden Alex Scott got the ball and we were shouting: 'Shoot!' 'That's what she did, it flew in the top corner and all of a sudden we've beaten the best team in the world and we're going back with a 1-0 lead. We had two midfield destroyers in Katie Chapman and Jayne Ludlow and they covered every blade of grass, that's where we won the game with their endurance and our keeper was great on the day. So, you never know. It could happen for this team. And now it's a one-off game.'
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Top Springfield cop pledges to fulfill consent decree reforms, as similar pacts end across US
SPRINGFIELD — Amid uncertainty over consent decrees covering police departments across the country, Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers said policy shifts in Washington mean little to him. Akers said he will push ahead with reforms the department has already instituted over the past three years after entering into an agreement with the Department of Justice in 2022. That followed a searing DOJ critique in 2020 of the department's former narcotics unit's excessive use of force. President Donald J. Trump in April issued an order to 'strengthen and unleash' America's law enforcement, with a directive that the U.S. Attorney General review all federal consent decrees and modify, rescind or conclude the agreements. As recently as Wednesday, the Trump administration announced the end of consent decrees in Minneapolis and Louisville, Kentucky — two hotspots of racial unrest after the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis cop in 2020 and the killing of Breonna Taylor during a botched execution of a search warrant in Kentucky. The Justice Department in the final weeks of the previous administration reached consent decree agreements with Minneapolis and Louisville, but the settlements had yet to be approved by a judge. The administration also announced the scrapping of consent decrees in Memphis; Phoenix; Oklahoma City; Trenton, New Jersey; and Mount Vernon, New York, as well as a case against the Louisiana State Police. Outside of local news coverage, Springfield's consent decree hasn't gotten a mention in widespread media coverage of the issue. Akers said he will continue to pursue the reform in police practice spelled out in the agreement. 'The message I'd like to convey to those in the community who believe 'Oh, now Springfield's going to get off the hook' is that we're not off the hook for anything,' said Akers, who was took the post in early 2024 as the department's first Black leader. 'We're just going to be going the way we're going. I think it's made the department a better place,' he said of changes in policy and practice under the federal settlement. The agreement has focused heavily on use-of-force policies, training, oversight measures, improving community relations and other benchmarks. Part of the agreement requires a compliance monitor, a role filled by Kathleen O'Toole, a former Boston Police commissioner and Secretary of Public Safety, plus a federal magistrate judge assigned to decide whether the city is in compliance. A Springfield native and 40-year veteran of the police force, Akers said he has not heard anything about the future of the consent decree from the DOJ, nor is he concerned about it. 'Whether this ends in a year, or a week, we're just going to keep doing what we're doing,' Akers said, adding that his priorities are the health of the department and the community it serves. 'Not just certain sectors of the city either. All residents in all communities,' he said. A spokesperson for the DOJ in Boston has been tight-lipped about the status of Springfield's consent decree. 'We're reviewing the executive order and will have no further comment at this time,' Christina Dilorio-Sterling said previously. She did not respond to a question from The Republican on Wednesday about the latest announcement by the Trump administration. Staff departures from the U.S. Attorney's office suggest the federal involvement is changing. Four assistant U.S. attorneys have withdrawn their appearances over the past four months, according to the federal court docket. Media representatives for the DOJ in Washington, D.C., did not respond to a request for comment. An investigation during Trump's first term preceded the announcement of the consent decree under the Biden administration. Akers said that while he's keeping his 'eyes on the prize' for the department, and is not focused on the DOJ, he wouldn't mind if the decree went away. 'Naturally no leader of a police department wants to be under a consent decree. It's a stigma I walked into,' he said. Material from the Associated Press was used in this report. Read the original article on MassLive.
