US Department of Justice uncovers civil rights violations by Phoenix police – JURIST

The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday found that Phoenix police and the city of Phoenix committed excessive force, discrimination and overall civil rights violations against Black, Latino, Native American and other marginalized communities. The findings were released in a 126-page report, concluding an investigation that began in 2021.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland summarized the report in an accompanying press release:

Our comprehensive investigation uncovered unlawful and unconstitutional enforcement practices by the Phoenix Police Department affecting some of Phoenix’s most vulnerable residents, including Black, Hispanic and Native Americans, the homeless, and those experiencing mental health crises. Police also used excessive force, delayed necessary medical attention, and violated the civil rights of those engaging in First Amendment-protected activities, including demonstrations and protests.

Garland also expressed hope that the release of the investigation’s findings would lead to progress in improving relations between marginalized communities and law enforcement and provide a launching pad for institutional reforms.

The report cites Section 12601 of the U.S. Constitutional Protection Act (34) as the legal basis for the investigation. This law prohibits police officers from engaging in “patterns or practices of conduct” that “deprive any person of any rights, privileges, or immunities guaranteed or protected by the Constitution or the laws of the United States.”

The report attributed many of the violations to inadequate training and a chain of command that condoned “almost all instances” of excessive force. Practices condemned in the report included inappropriate use of stun guns, lack of control over police dogs, misuse of ankle bracelets, “force first” practices and gratuitous violence against restrained individuals.

The agency promised to work closely with the city and local police to reach a “comprehensive court-enforceable agreement” to fix the problems. The press release also suggested independent monitoring as part of the effort to correct the practices.

In Arizona, the use of questionable police tactics is nothing new. In 2017, former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio was found guilty of criminal contempt for failing to comply with a court order to stop detaining Latinos solely based on their immigration status. The Justice Department has several open investigations into police departments across the country, including cases in Mississippi, Minnesota, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Oklahoma.