The Justice Department’s investigation into the Phoenix Police Department is investigating several issues, including how officers dealt with the city’s homeless population. PHOENIX (3TV / CBS 5) – People who experienced homelessness accuse Phoenix police of unlawfully destroying their belongings. Fund for Empowerment, a social action group that encourages homeless people to campaign for change, hopes the Justice Department’s investigation into Phoenix police practices will improve the way officers interact with residents on the street. “If we have to survive, the police will leave it,” says local resident Frank Urban. “This is basically a robbery with strong arms.” Urban currently lives in a temporary apartment with his girlfriend Faith Kearns. Both say the officers took their sleeping bags and important documents such as ID cards while they were living in Sunnyslope. “If they do the sweeps, they’ll chase everyone out,” says Kearns. “If you’re not out with your things when they say go out with your things, they’ll leave it behind.” Justice Department Announces Phoenix Police Investigation The DOJ opened a civil rights investigation against the Phoenix Police Department earlier this month. The investigation will have a wide scope to examine the use of force by officials and the way the police deal with the homeless, protesters and people with disabilities. Phoenix Police did not want to comment on Thursday’s investigation, citing the DOJ’s ongoing review, but Chief Jeri Williams has said they welcomed the investigation. Lawyers like Elizabeth Venable of the Fund for Empowerment have long criticized policies that criminalize homelessness. Venerable says the uninhabited “have their rights trampled” and enforcing trespassing and camping laws is not helping people get back on their feet. Venerable says that even minor violations “can deter them from finding a home or job”. Urban and Kearns say Phoenix Police should attend training courses to improve outcomes in those with mental illness or drug addiction. She. “Not all homeless robbers, thieves, murderers and drug dealers,” says Urban. “Many of them are just people who are not lucky. They couldn’t pay their rent, they couldn’t pay a bill. ”Copyright 2021 KPHO / KTVK (KPHO Rundfunkgesellschaft). All rights reserved.
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