Phoenix police mark 2 years under federal investigation
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This week marks two years since civil rights investigators from the the Department of Justice launched a sweeping review of Phoenix and its police department.
The city produced a video update for the anniversary featuring the interim police chief, who says his department is working hard to get federal officials the information they need to finish their task.
But a city report from May says it took 16 months before civil rights investigators got access to body camera videos from Phoenix police.
The city didn’t want to face penalties for breaking rules on criminal justice information security. So, investigators needed a waiver to see the videos, or their own evidence.com account.
After the former was acquired and rejected as too narrow, they did the latter.
Cooperation and irritation
Interim Phoenix Police Chief Michael Sullivan said there has been cooperation and irritation.
“I’m sure the Department of Justice probably has the same frustrations with the amount of time this investigation is taking," he said.
The Justice Department did not reply to a request for comment.
One question that civil rights investigators are reviewing is whether Phoenix police are excessively violent.
The department has been working all year to update its use-of-force policy and is close to a final draft.
Interim chief knows process
Sullivan worked for two other agencies that have also gone through the same kind of federal investigation. Now, he’s participating on the front end of the process.
“That’s one of the things that I know took us a very long time in Baltimore. That’s the bread and butter of reform, is making sure that we have a good use-of-force policy where we can hold ourselves accountable,” he said.
Sullivan predicts the updated policy will take effect in the first quarter of 2024 after everyone in the department gets training.
