According to the U.S. Justice Department, Phoenix police have been found to violate people’s rights, discriminate against Black, Hispanic, and Native American individuals, and use excessive force, including unjustified deadly force. The department identified a pattern of violations, including unlawful detentions of homeless individuals, discrimination against those with behavioral health disabilities, and violations of the rights of those engaged in protected speech.
The report uncovered pervasive failings within the Phoenix Police Department that have perpetuated issues for years. It also revealed disparities in the enforcement of certain laws, with Black, Hispanic, and Native American individuals facing harsher treatment than whites engaging in similar conduct.
Attorney General Merrick Garland hailed the release of the report as an important step towards accountability and transparency. The Department of Justice is committed to working with the City of Phoenix and its police department on meaningful reforms to protect civil rights, enhance safety, and build trust within the community.
If efforts to secure a consent decree for reform are unsuccessful, litigation remains an option for the federal agency. Similar investigations in other cities like Albuquerque and Baltimore have led to consent decrees addressing excessive force and civil rights violations.
This is the first time findings like this have been issued regarding treatment of Native American and homeless individuals. The report shed light on issues such as the treatment of protesters, deaths of individuals restrained by officers, and a high number of shootings involving Phoenix police.
The report urged the mayor and city council to address these wrongs, highlighting the need for corrective action. The investigation, which began in August 2021, examined all Phoenix police shootings from January 2019 to December 2022.
The report also criticized the city’s 911 operations for dispatching police alone in situations where behavioral health responders would be more appropriate, leading to unnecessary force and criminal consequences for individuals with disabilities.
Overall, the Justice Department found that Phoenix police used unjustified force, unlawfully detained homeless individuals, and failed to provide aid to those they had shot. The report emphasized the importance of de-escalation tactics and proper training for 911 call-takers and dispatchers.
The findings of the investigation have prompted calls for reform and accountability within the Phoenix Police Department, with civil rights advocates and advocacy groups urging swift action to address the issues identified.
