TL/DR –
The U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) three-year investigation into Phoenix’s police department found patterns of violations of the Constitution and civil rights, including discriminatory policing and excessive force. In response, Phoenix city leaders have said they take the 126-page report seriously and intend to work with residents, city employees, and the DOJ to create appropriate solutions, asking the City Manager and the Police Chief to assess recommended improvements. However, the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association opposes a consent decree, a legally binding reform measure suggested by the DOJ, and prefers a less formal agreement known as a technical assistance letter.
Phoenix Takes DOJ’s Findings of Police Misconduct “Extremely Seriously”
The city of Phoenix has announced that they are treating the findings into their police department by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) with utmost seriousness.
This announcement comes after the DOJ reported that the Phoenix Police Department demonstrated a “pattern or practice” of violations against the Constitution and civil rights, such as discriminatory policing and excessive use of force.
Despite the meetings being closed to the public as per state law, the Phoenix government relayed their response which stated intentions for collaboration with the DOJ, city employees, and residents to develop suitable community solutions. They also specified that the City Manager and the Police Chief have been asked to appraise the suggested improvements.
The DOJ has provided 36 recommendations to enhance policies, training, accountability, and data collection. The city acknowledged these recommendations, as it had previously launched a reform campaign to address these issues earlier this year. However, the DOJ emphasized that the police cannot rectify these problems on their own.
In the DOJ’s latest announcement, they asserted that consent decrees have historically proven effective in securing lasting and meaningful reform. Despite this, the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association (PLEA) and city leaders prefer a less formal agreement, a technical assistance letter, as opposed to a consent decree.
PLEA’s president, Darrell Kriplean, criticized the DOJ’s findings, accusing them of intending to remove local police control from communities and benefiting DOJ insiders through consent decrees. Kriplean cited increases in violent crime, new unfunded costs, and a decrease in police morale as potential consequences of such measures.
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