The City of Phoenix and the Phoenix Police Department are reviewing the controversial findings from a nearly three-year investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. As expected, the highly politicized DOJ claims the Phoenix Police Department routinely used excessive force, including deadly force; violated the rights of lawful protesters; and targeted people of color.
City leaders say they are “eager to read the evidence and insights provided by the DOJ which support its findings.”
“We are taking all allegations seriously and are planning to review this lengthy report with an open mind,” City Manager Jeff Barton said in a message to city employees. “Self-reflection is an important step in continuous improvement, and our Police Department has demonstrated a commitment to reform by making improvements to policy, discipline, internal investigations and training.”
“Phoenix has cooperated fully with the DOJ’s investigation, sharing extensive data and facilitating interviews,” tweeted Phoenix City Councilmember Ann O’Brien. “Despite this, the DOJ is pushing for a consent decree, a model they claim is successful, but data shows little success in other cities.”
Phoenix has cooperated fully with the DOJ's investigation, sharing extensive data and facilitating interviews. Despite this, the DOJ is pushing for a consent decree, a model they claim is successful, but data shows little success in other cities.
Read my full statement below 🔽 pic.twitter.com/5nvUyOBabS
— Councilwoman Ann O’Brien (@CWAnnOBrien) June 13, 2024
In January, the City of Phoenix and Phoenix Police Department requested an alternative resolution to a pattern-or-practice investigation of the city and its police department by the DOJ.
In December, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell weighed-in on the possibility of DOJ involvement.
“MCSO has been under a consent decree since 2015 and is required to run every decision through their court ordered monitor — who, by the way, hasn’t been to their $8,000 a month office, paid for by the Maricopa County taxpayers, in more than three years,” said Mitchell in explaining why she is “not about to give the Justice Department control of Phoenix Police,” said Mitchell referring to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office in an opinion piece.
As Phoenix city leadership has previously argued, “it is not in the best interest of residents to make any decisions that will affect public safety without adequate time to review the report.”
“We want to see not only what these individual incidents are that the Department of Justice refers to, but we also want to see whether it included policy change or whether it possibly included discipline, or other changes within the department as far as practices go,” said Interim Police Chief Michael Sullivan.
The decisions made in response to the findings report will have long-term consequences for the city and its residents. For that reason, the city and PPD need to analyze and discuss the full array of costs and benefits of entering into a binding, long-term relationship with the DOJ.
City leaders say the Phoenix Police Department has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to continuous improvement by enhancing policy, accountability and training.
The City and the Department have cooperated with the DOJ’s investigation for nearly three years. Thousands of requested documents and Body Worn Camera videos have been provided, and access to trainings, interviews and ride-alongs were all granted by the City of Phoenix.
“We appreciate the dedication demonstrated by the DOJ in identifying certain issues that are worthy of careful review. We remain committed to improving service to all residents in Phoenix regardless of federal intervention,” stated the City in a press release on Thursday.
They need to tell the DOJ to pound sand.
This president’s administration is pleased to see its Dept of Justice selectively demonizing law enforcement in purple Arizona, cultivating distrust of Arizonans ability to govern ourselves. Keep federal law enforcement out of our local criminal justice system!
Phoenix PD has been under-funded for so long because of the liberal policies, there is bound to be things that could be questioned. I have an embezzlement case from October of 2023 and because they only have 2 detectives in the fraud department, she is still walking around and hasn’t even been brought in yet! The DOJ needs to get the heck out of Arizona and stay in their DC swamp.
It’s time to stop the federalization of local police forces. Those of you on the City Council should grow a spine and tell the feds to pound sand. Same for MCSO.
so just lock and load when on the on ramp and you should be fine..
The DOJ? They will go which ever way the political wind blows! I am pretty sure that Justice to them is “just us”.
haha… now that is the new reality