The Justice Department announced that it is investigating whether the Phoenix Police Department is engaged in discriminatory policing. PHOENIX (3TV / CBS 5) – The US Department of Justice has announced a civil rights investigation into the city of Phoenix and the Phoenix Police Department. US Attorney General Merrick Garland and Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clark said the investigation will examine whether the department is doing discriminatory policing, whether it is retaliatory for acts of the First Amendment, and whether it is illegally disposing of homeless property. Any use of force by officers, including deadly force, is also investigated. The hope is to recruit precisely those people who want to change the system from all different areas and areas of life, to be the change with them, to answer the call to serve. DOJ officials briefed Mayor Kate Gallego, Police Chief Jeri Williams and other city officials ahead of the announcement, according to a press release. The investigation is expected to also look into the Phoenix City and Phoenix Police system to respond to people with disabilities. A full review of the policies, training, oversight and investigations of the Phoenix Police Department is also expected. “When we conduct sample or field research to determine whether the Constitution or federal law has been violated, our goal is to promote transparency and accountability,” Garland said. “This increases public trust, which in turn increases public safety. We know law enforcement agencies share these goals. ”Phoenix Vice Mayor Carlos Garcia said he did not expect the US Department of Justice to announce an investigation into the city of Phoenix and the Phoenix Police Department, but believes the investigation is The national spotlight deserves explanation, the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association says it will work fully with federal investigators and says it is working to maintain a high standard of community policing while promoting ethical street guidelines, “the union president said Michael Britt London. Phoenix City Council adopts the Civil Oversight Bureau for Police People Who Are Homeless. ”The recommendations that emerge from this review will help us in our ongoing efforts to make the city an even safer, stronger and fairer city she said in part. Vice Mayor Carlos Garcia reiterated the mayor’s sentiment, adding that the federal government’s investigation shows a “clear message” that the Phoenix Police are “unable to serve our community and the violence and suspicion our community has experienced , further confirmed ”. He is an outspoken advocate of police reform and said that as long as the department is active, they have identified PLEA supporting them, ”Garcia said. But he said the need for a deeper look into what is going on behind the scenes has been advocated by city council members and city guides since the early 1990s. “We’ve seen rape allegations, we’ve seen people beat up, so it wasn’t an isolated incident, it was a compilation that got us to that point,” Garcia said. Meanwhile, retired police commander Dr The Phoenix Police Department for 32 years said the investigation will finally show that more resources are needed. “This is something that as a community one shouldn’t be afraid of, but rather embrace. We will be one of the leading agencies to see how we are doing in mental health and homelessness dealing with protests, ”said Dr. Hynes. In May, Vice Mayor Garcia helped establish the Bureau of Accountability and Transparency – police misconduct investigations and shootings by officials. Dr. Hynes believes the investigation will only move the department forward on social issues. “Phoenix will put it on the platform for testing and we welcome it,” said Dr. Hynes. The US Department of Justice has announced a civil rights investigation into the city of Phoenix and the Phoenix Police Department. The Arizona ACLU responded to today’s announcement by stating that a fundamental change was needed in the department and citing their legal evidence for a complete overhaul of the department. “This is not a bad apple case,” said the nonprofit. “Phoenix PD has ingrained, systemic problems with community members. It’s time for that to change. ”In 2020, the Arizona family analyzed nearly ten thousand incidents of Phoenix police officers using violence in an encounter with a suspect or subject. The analysis showed that a disproportionately high number of violent clashes with the police can be attributed to African Americans. Check out the full Morgan Lowe story here. Chief Williams: “Wearing a badge is a privilege, not a right,” Chief Williams said she welcomed the investigation with open arms and said it will allow the department to recruit her Demonstrate commitment to transparency. “Our law enforcement agency, like any unit on the planet, has room for improvement. We applaud that,” said Williams. During a press conference on Thursday afternoon, the police chief said she was informed before the DOJ announced. Watch the full press conference from Phoenix City officials and Phoenix Police on the video player below: Phoenix Police and Phoenix City leaders turned to the Department of Justice’s investigation into the police on Thursday afternoon. Police Reform in Arizona 1 Year After the Assassination of George Floyd After nationwide protests sparked following the assassination of George Floyd, several reforms were carried out by Arizona police departments, including the Phoenix Police Department. This includes a curriculum approved by the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board that adds 10 hours of firearms training to de-escalate. The Bureau of Police Accountability and Transparency, approved by the Phoenix City Council earlier this year, would enable independent reviews of the Phoenix Police’s actions. Other adjustments made by the department are: The carotid artery control technology is no longer permittedAdapted mandate for shooting at moving vehiclesAdditional duty to interveneAdditional duty to provide assistanceAll line officers wear body camerasThe department keeps track of how often officers draw weaponsNew city website for data on shootings by officers Several of these changes came after more than a dozen unarmed protesters were accused of being part of a street gang when Black Lives Matter demonstrations struck the city after Floyd’s death. However, a testimony from the grand jury compared the group to violent Southern California gangs. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office later dropped the charges. In 2017, the department was widely criticized after reports surfaced of a “Challenge Coin” allegedly issued during a round of protests that summer. At that time, some members of the police are said to have circulated the coin, which is also said to contain hate speech. The investigation is expected to take about a year, according to Williams. Neither the Phoenix police nor the city announced whether any of the department’s specific actions led to an investigation. Copyright 2021 KPHO / KTVK (KPHO Rundfunkgesellschaft). All rights reserved.
[ad_2]
