PHOENIX — The City of Phoenix unanimously approved a series of reforms intended to address some of the criticisms mentioned in the Department of Justice’s scathing report about the city’s police department.
On Tuesday, the city council voted 9-0 to approve a list of proposals intended to enhance accountability and transparency after the DOJ accused Phoenix police of engaging in a pattern of conduct that violated the constitutional rights of residents.
A memo of those reforms includes the following:
- Implementing a hotline for citizens to file complaints against officers
- Prioritize staffing of 911 dispatchers
- Expanding use of body-worn cameras
- Creating an “Inspector Sergeant” position in all precincts to investigate officer misconduct
- The agency’s Professional Standards Bureau shall publish clear deadlines for completing investigative reports
- Update policies with community input regarding interactions with young and vulnerable populations
“Our commitment to constitutional policing means we must improve the tools to self-assess and self-correct and put in place measures that are pivotal for high-performing government agencies,” the city memo states…