City Council Approves Civilian Oversight For Phoenix Police Department

“This is the most radical, extremist anti-police plan in the whole damn country."

Critics of Phoenix Police wore yellow shirts that read “Cops Must Be Accountable to the People,” at the City Council meeting.

PHOENIX – The Phoenix City Council has approved a plan promoted by Councilman Carlos Garcia to create a new city department that will facilitate civilian oversight of the Police Department. The City Council, in a 5-4 vote, approved the controversial plan during the five hour meeting on Tuesday.

The new “Office of Accountability and Transparency” (OAT) will include a community review board and a unit tasked with monitoring and investigating police complaints.

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“This is the most radical, extremist anti-police plan in the whole damn country,” City Councilman Sal DiCiccio said. “It is going to destroy the morale of our Police Department and put our public in danger.”

The City Council rejected a more moderate plan, referred to as Model A, to set up a “community relations board” and hire an ombudsman and staff to mediate complaints and monitor and audit Phoenix police investigations of major incidents.

Mayor Kate Gallego, who originally proposed that plan, switched her support to the investigative plan after it became clear that she did not have the votes to pass the moderate measure.

Both Phoenix police unions, the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association and the Phoenix Police Sergeants and Lieutenants Association opposed the Garcia backed plan.

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