Conclusion of the investigation into the Phoenix Police Department

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is ending their probe into the Phoenix Police Department. This conclusion is one of several being closed across the nation on investigations into local police departments.

The DOJ first announced their probe into the Phoenix Police in August 2021 after the department faced accusations of excessive force against the unhoused population. The DOJ is looking into whether their officers discriminated against people.

Last year, the DOJ put out a report with claims Phoenix Police acted with discrimination against certain groups of people and detained and arrested members of the unhoused population without reasonable suspicion.

Michael White, Professor and Associate Director at the Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety, joined “Arizona Horizon” to share more on the conclusion of this investigation.

When White first heard the probe was being concluded, he shared that he “wasn’t surprised at all.”

“It has nothing to do with the merits of the investigation, or the evidence, or anything like that. It’s simply based on really the philosophical position of the Trump Administration. They believe the U.S. Department of Justice should not be involved in the investigation and oversight of local police departments,” White said.

The Phoenix Police also released a report called “The Road to Reform” outlining changes that have and that will continue to be made within the department.

White shared his perspective on this report, saying, “It looks like the department acknowledged a lot of the issues that were a concern. And these are deep organizational issues involving recruitment, training, supervision, accountability. And, you know in many cases, you know the federal oversight process exists because police departments often will not change unless compelled to do so, and I guess what we’ll see now over the next several years is whether Phoenix is going to make those changes on their own.