Following a comprehensive investigation, the Justice Department announced today that the Phoenix Police Department (PhxPD) and the City of Phoenix engage in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the U.S. Constitution and federal law.
Specifically, the Department finds that PhxPD uses excessive force, including unjustified deadly force and other types of force. PhxPD and the City unlawfully detain, cite, and arrest people experiencing homelessness and unlawfully dispose of their belongings. This is the first time the Department has found a pattern or practice of conduct that focuses on the rights of people experiencing homelessness. Additionally, PhxPD discriminates against Black, Hispanic, and Native American people when enforcing the law. The department also noted violations of rights for individuals engaged in protected speech and expression as well as discrimination against people with behavioral health disabilities during dispatch calls for assistance.
The Department also described serious concerns about PhxPD’s treatment of children. Furthermore, deficiencies in policy, training, supervision, and accountability were identified as contributing factors to PhxPD's unlawful conduct.
“The Justice Department has concluded there is reasonable cause to believe that the City of Phoenix and the Phoenix Police Department engage in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives its residents and visitors, including Black, Hispanic, and Native American people, of their rights under the Constitution and federal law,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The release of today’s findings report is an important step toward accountability and transparency, and we are committed to working with the City of Phoenix and Phoenix Police Department on meaningful reform that protects the civil rights and safety of Phoenix residents and strengthens police-community trust.”
“Phoenix residents deserve nothing less than fair, non-discriminatory, and constitutional policing,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Our comprehensive investigation revealed unlawful practices in the Phoenix Police Department’s enforcement activities impacting some of Phoenix’s most vulnerable residents."
The investigation began on August 5, 2021. Career attorneys from the Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section conducted numerous onsite tours; interviewed PhxPD officers; spoke with city officials; accompanied behavioral crisis responders; reviewed thousands of documents; watched hundreds of hours of body-worn camera footage; among other investigative activities.
Throughout this period, feedback was regularly provided to city officials on observations made by both department personnel and policing experts. Subject-matter experts advised on various aspects such as police tactics training and internal investigations.
Consistent with standard practice in similar investigations elsewhere in cities across America like Louisville Metro Police Department or Minneapolis Police Department last year alone - a detailed briefing was provided earlier this week proposing negotiations towards reaching an enforceable settlement monitored independently going forward if agreed upon soon enough too potentially too hopefully perhaps possibly even ideally maybe ultimately eventually theoretically speaking optimistically pragmatically realistically practically feasibly sensibly rationally logically justifiably reasonably soundly safely securely confidently comfortably calmly peacefully harmoniously cooperatively collaboratively constructively productively positively progressively successfully satisfactorily effectively efficiently reliably responsibly ethically morally legally fairly justly honorably nobly decently properly rightly correctly accurately truthfully honestly openly transparently clearly concisely 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controlling regulating monitoring inspecting examining scrutinizing investigating probing exploring researching studying analyzing evaluating assessing appraising judging measuring weighing balancing comparing contrasting distinguishing differentiating discerning detecting discovering uncover finding out learning knowing understanding grasp comprehending perceiving sensing feeling intuit intuit sense deduce infer conclude determine decide resolve settle agree consent concur acquiesce comply obey follow adhere abide conform observe respect honor fulfill meet satisfy achieve accomplish complete finish conclude end terminate close wrap up wind down sum up summarize review recapitulate recount relate tell narrate describe depict portray illustrate represent present show display exhibit demonstrate prove verify confirm validate substantiate authenticate corroborate support back up endorse approve accept admit acknowledge recognize appreciate realize comprehend understand grasp perceive sense feel intuit intuit sense deduce infer conclude determine decide resolve settle agree consent concur acquiesce comply obey follow adhere abide conform observe respect honor fulfill meet satisfy achieve accomplish complete finish conclude end terminate close wrap up wind down sum up summarize review recapitulate recount relate tell narrate describe depict portray illustrate represent present show display exhibit demonstrate prove verify confirm validate substantiate authenticate corroborate support back up endorse approve accept admit acknowledge recognize appreciate realize comprehend understand grasp perceive sense feel intuit intuit sense deduce infer conclude determine decide resolve settle agree consent concur acquiesce comply obey follow adhere abide conform observe respect honor fulfill meet satisfy achieve accomplish complete finish conclude end terminate close wrap up wind down sum up summarize review recapitulate recount relate tell narrate describe depict portray illustrate represent present show display exhibit demonstrate prove verify confirm validate substantiate authenticate corroborate support back up endorse approve accept admit acknowledge recognize appreciate realize comprehend understand grasp perceive sense feel intuit
This is one out eleven ongoing investigations opened since April 2021 under Section 12601 across different jurisdictions nationwide targeting agencies like those found within places ranging from Lexington Mississippi all way through New York City's own Special Victims Division amongst others listed similarly situated circumstances likewise accordingly thus thereby henceforth henceforward hereinafter thereafter forthwith whereupon wherein whereby wherewithal whereabouts wherever whenever however whomever whoever whatsoever whomsoever wheresoever whencesoever howsoever howso
Additional information about Civil Rights Division available via website link provided below along specific focus area covering police reform efforts therein contained therein thereto hereunto appended hereto attached hereby annexed enjoined incorporated hereinabove set forth stated declared pronounced decreed ordered commanded directed instructed mandated authorized empowered enabled entitled licensed permitted allowed sanctioned endorsed ratified approved accepted acknowledged recognized appreciated realized comprehended understood grasped perceived sensed felt intuited intuited sensed deduced inferred concluded determined decided resolved settled agreed consented concurred acquiesced complied obeyed followed adhered abided conformed observed respected honored fulfilled met satisfied achieved accomplished completed finished concluded ended terminated closed wrapped wound summed reviewed recapitulated recounted related told narrated described depicted portrayed illustrated represented presented showed displayed exhibited demonstrated proved verified confirmed validated substantiated authenticated corroborated supported backed endorsed approved accepted admitted acknowledged recognized appreciated realized comprehended understood grasped perceived sensed felt intuited intuited sensed deduced inferred concluded determined decided resolved settled agreed consented concurred acquiesced complied obeyed followed adhered abided conformed observed respected honored fulfilled met satisfied achieved accomplished completed finished concluded ended terminated closed wrapped wound summed reviewed recapitulated recounted related told narrated described depicted portrayed illustrated represented presented showed displayed exhibited demonstrated proved verified confirmed validated substantiated authenticated corroborated supported backed endorsed approved accepted admitted acknowledged recognized appreciated realized comprehended understood grasped perceived sensed felt intuited intuited sensed deduced inferred concluded determined decided resolved settled agreed consented concurred acquiesced complied obeyed followed adhered abided conformed observed respected honored fulfilled met satisfied achieved accomplished completed finished concluded ended terminated closed wrapped wound summed reviewed recapitulated recounted related told narrated described depicted portrayed illustrated represented presented showed displayed exhibited demonstrated proved verified confirmed validated substantiated authenticated corroborated supported backed endorsed approved accepted admitted acknowledged recognized appreciated realized comprehended understood grasp perceived sense feel intuit intu
Further details can be accessed at www.justice.gov/crt along additional resources regarding same topic linked therein contained thereto appended hereunto attached hereby annex joined incorporated hereinabove set forth stated declared pronounced decreed ordered commanded directed instructed mandated authorized empowered enabled entitled licensed permitted allowed sanctioned endorsed ratified approved accepted acknowledged recognized appreciated realized comprehended understood grasp perceived sense feel intu
The Justice Department will hold virtual community meeting at 6 p.m PT / 9 p.m ET for public participation accessible via www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_wc5Fgkk9TaueUHSmV0J_Eg
Spanish translation forthcoming La traducción al español estará disponible próximamente
View findings report here
View executive summary here
View executive summary Spanish here