DOJ to drop civil rights probe into Phoenix police, rescind findings
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The Trump administration Department of Justice ended several rights investigations into several police departments, including Phoenix. Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images
The U.S. Department of Justice is dropping a years-long civil rights investigation into the Phoenix Police Department and rescinding its findings of numerous constitutional violations.
Driving the news: The Trump administration announced on Wednesday it will close a Biden-era investigation into police departments in Phoenix and several other cities, and retract findings of constitutional violations.
- The DOJ also said it will seek to scrap proposed consent decrees with the Louisville, Kentucky, and Minneapolis police departments.
What they're saying: The DOJ "is confident that the vast majority of police officers across the Nation will continue to vigorously enforce the law and protect the public in full compliance with the Constitution and all applicable federal laws," the department said in a statement.
- "When bad actors in uniform fail to do so, the Department stands ready to take all necessary action to address any resulting constitutional or civil-rights violations, including via criminal prosecution."
State of play: The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, the largest labor union representing PPD officers, called DOJ's decision "a clear vindication for the City and our department."
- The union said in a press statement that federal oversight of police departments is ineffective, inefficient and misguided.
- Vice Mayor Ann O'Brien praised Wednesday's decision, and said the department can make necessary changes without federal oversight.
Catch up quick: The 2024 report that followed the DOJ's three-year probe found that Phoenix police violated constitutional rights with patterns or practices of:
- Using excessive force, including unnecessary, deadly force
- Arresting people experiencing homelessness without reasonable suspicion of crimes and improperly seizing or destroying their property
- Engaging in discriminatory enforcement against Black, Latino and Native American people
- Violating the rights of protesters engaging in constitutionally protected speech
- Discriminatory enforcement against people with behavioral health problems
The other side: Benjamin Taylor, a Phoenix civil rights attorney who represents some of the people interviewed as part of the DOJ probe, told Axios it was disheartening to see the investigation end without a lawsuit or consent decree.
- He hopes that a future presidential administration will pursue a consent decree, saying: "Real change happens when you have federal oversight."
What we're watching: Following Trump's 2024 election, city leaders pledged that Phoenix PD would move forward with reforms, regardless of what happened with the investigation, which the administration was expected to end.
- Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego affirmed her commitment to reforms, regardless of federal oversight, and said she'd resisted DOJ's attempts to to impose "an unseen consent decree that would legally bind the city for years."
What's next: Phoenix PD is currently vetting candidates to be its next police chief.