PHOENIX — On Monday, the Phoenix Police Department announced a new policy that requires the tracking of every instance in which officers point guns at people. Pointing a gun will now be treated as an act of use-of-force.
Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams stated, “Our updated records management system now allows us to track these incidents and will allow us to have a real idea of how many times our officers are able to successfully de-escalate an incident in a situation with the potential of deadly force.”
The new policy is derived from a National Police Foundation report commission by the City of Phoenix. The report recommended the following:
- Document when officers point their gun at a person.
- Improve consistency in collecting and maintaining data on police shootings.
- Improve training.
- Improve transparency by sharing data and information with the community.
- Have more community engagement.
- Increase policing units.
- Conduct a staffing study to determine if Phoenix police has sufficient officers.
- Improve its records-management system.
- Study mental-health issues.