Mayor Don Plusquellic held his weekly news conference at Greenleaf Family Center on Tuesday to highlight the center's upcoming workshop focusing on military families.

Although the effort to assist the families took center stage, discussion between the mayor and the media over a recent police-related shooting of an Akron man was a topic that could not be ignored.

The mayor called the news conference to tout a free one-day program to help the families, particularly children of service members deployed in the Iraq war. It will be offered from 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 2 at the center, 212 E. Exchange St.

Laura K. Shank, Greenleaf marketing director, said the workshop will deal with a variety if issues faced by the loved ones of soldiers in Iraq.

Shank said that deployment creates emotional and behavioral needs that can make communication between loved ones stressful.

''The workshops will focus on staying connected,'' Shank said.

The workshop sessions, which will be age appropriate, will spotlight productive and proactive ways to cope with the deployment cycle.

One of the goals of the workshop is to help young people deal with the stress and emotions of having a relative in the service.

Registration is required by calling 330-376-9494, Ext. 259.

After talking about the workshop, the mayor fielded several questions about the controversy surrounding the death of Jeffery Stephens Sr., who was shot and killed by police July 5.

Plusquellic, noting Monday's rally supporting city police, said the friction between the community and Akron police needs to come to an end. He asked all sides to be patient and wait for the investigation into the shooting to be completed.

''It is not fair to jump to conclusions. . . . People don't let emotions overwhelm what needs to be done in a professional manner,'' the mayor said.

Plusquellic said that police Chief Michael Matulavich might have been less than artful when he called the shooting ''100 percent justifiable'' but that he understood what the chief meant.

Plusquellic said the chief ''was trying to say that the police have determined at this point'' that the shooting was ''100 percent within the training and procedures'' of the police department.

The mayor said if the investigation into the shooting reveals that policies and procedures need to change, then they will be changed.

However, Plusquellic said those who are claiming the administration is saying the police did something wrong are mistaken.

The mayor said that ''it is absurd . . . and almost a lie for anyone to say'' that his administration or members of council have accused police of wrongdoing.

''Right now the best thing that could happen is everybody lets the process be completed and come to some conclusion,'' Plusquellic said.