Akron Public Schools safety director Alan Jones has returned to work after a three-day unpaid suspension, after an outside investigator found he violated the district’s staff ethics policy during an August meeting that escalated into a shouting match. District records show Jones, in the job since 2024, was disciplined for the Aug. 26 confrontation, but the investigator determined he did not discriminate against, harass or retaliate against a subordinate employee or her union representative.
The meeting was called to discuss a safety team member’s involuntary transfer to a different school this year. According to the report, the discussion deteriorated minutes after it began, and Jones directed the employee and her union steward, Matthew Buser of Service Employees International Union Local 1, to leave his office. When Buser refused to leave without paperwork Jones said was the basis for the reassignment, Jones moved around his desk and moved the employee’s wheeled chair as he approached Buser. The exchange ended when Superintendent Mary Outley approached the door.
The employee said Jones’ knee collided with her left knee as he moved past her, causing pain and swelling, and she later received medical treatment. Jones denies touching her, and Buser said he did not witness contact. Jones said he could not walk out himself because confidential paperwork was stored in his office, and that he planned to wheel Buser’s chair out. Buser said he stood when Jones grabbed the arm of his chair, unsure what Jones planned to do.
The district hired attorney Kate Davis of Bricker Graydon Wyatt to investigate. Davis interviewed those involved and four other witnesses and reviewed statements, prior disciplinary actions, policies and Jones’ office layout. She found his conduct violated the ethics policy, which requires employees to recognize the basic dignities of everyone they interact with and to protect the safety of students, colleagues and subordinates, because he allowed the meeting to escalate into an aggressive shouting match.
Human resources director Chase Canfield wrote that the safety director is expected to model restraint, de-escalation and high ethical standards, and that confronting employees and union representatives in a physical and aggressively loud manner falls far below the conduct required of district leadership. The investigator said Jones’ later visits to the employee’s worksite did not violate policy, as they were part of his customary supervisory duties. Jones was placed on leave Aug. 31 and returned Oct. 21.
Jones, who retired from the Akron Police Department after roughly 33 years and previously served as a school resource officer, acknowledged voices got loud but maintains he did not touch either person. He declined to sign the form acknowledging the suspension, said he is sorry it happened, and said he is glad to be back. The employee said she is disappointed and believes the suspension reflects a double standard. Separately, Buser said the grievance over the transfer was upheld, and the employee could have returned to her original worksite but chose to stay at her new location.