PHOENIX — It wasn’t one thing that led to the Department of Justice's investigation into the Phoenix Police Department – it was several.
The DOJ announced what’s called a “pattern or practice” investigation into Phoenix PD in August 2021 looking at five areas of conduct:
- Use of Force
- Possible discriminatory policies or practices
- Possible violations of First Amendment rights
- Possible violations of the rights of those with disabilities or behavioral health concerns
- Possible violations of the rights of homeless people
The investigation, now going on for 29 months, appears to be broad in scope. As of November 2023, Phoenix PD said it's provided the DOJ with more than 147,000 documents; 20 terabytes of data; more than 22,000 body-worn camera videos; 200 911 calls; 200 hours of ride-alongs with officers; and interviews of more than 130 city employees.
It's not clear exactly when the Department of Justice will announce any findings or the outcome of their investigation, but they are possibly expected in early 2024.
RELATED: Here's a timeline of Phoenix police cases that may be investigated by the Department of Justice
Use of Force
Phoenix hit a high in 2018, tallying 44 cases where police officers shot at a person or suspect. City data showed that 23 of those cases had fatal shootings, the highest that year of any major metro city nationwide.
Since that high, the city’s had fewer shootings by officers each year with 24 cases so far in 2023.
The data from 2017 to the present shows that the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office hasn’t filed any criminal charges against Phoenix officers in any of the cases it’s reviewed.
Some use-of-force cases resulted in multi-million dollar settlements with the city of Phoenix. One example is Dion Humphrey, who was shot by a rubber bullet in January 2020. Police said they mistook 19-year-old Humphrey for his brother, who was being investigated for a robbery. Humphrey survived, but suffered injuries and the city agreed to pay him $5 million after settling a lawsuit in that case.
Another example is Ryan Whitaker. Police showed up at his door for a noise complaint in May 2020. Whitaker, a legal gun owner, answered the door with a gun in his hand. Within seconds, police shot and killed him. His family settled with the City of Phoenix for $3 million.
Protests and homeless sweeps
The DOJ is also looking into whether police violated First Amendment rights, most notably in its handling of protests in 2020. The city saw dozens of protests throughout the year.
In one case, Phoenix police are accused of falsely arresting some Black Lives Matter protesters for being involved in a gang. The charges were eventually dropped and the prosecutor involved in the case was let go from her job.
The police department also came under scrutiny for its treatment of the homeless population. Prior to 2022, the city would conduct regular street cleanings in what's now known as "The Zone" homeless encampment.
In those cleanings, people experiencing homelessness had to move their items out of the way, or their belongings could be thrown out. Phoenix police were our with cleaning crews as part of this process and were accused of trashing unsheltered people's personal belongings, like birth certificates and IDs.
Changes amid the DOJ probe
Chief Jeri Williams was leading the police department when the DOJ started its investigation.
"Our police department, like any other police department on the face of the planet, always has room for improvement," then-Chief Williams said in a press conference after the DOJ's announcement.
In May 2022, less than a year after the Justice Department started its probe, Williams announced her retirement after 33 years with the city.
She stepped down a few months later after the city named her replacement. The city manager went with an outside hire: Michael Sullivan, who had experience working with the DOJ and leading cities through police reform.
He was sworn in as the interim police chief in October 2022 and was expected to helm the department for at least one to two years before the city found a new chief.
"I can tell you I’m focused on accountability," he told 12News in an interview shortly after starting on the job.
RELATED: Interim Phoenix Police Chief Michael Sullivan said he 'looks forward' to seeing DOJ's findings
DOJ updates are tracked by the city online. Phoenix PD shared it’s done more de-escalation training and implemented new policies, like diverting mental health calls to civilian providers.
The city also changed how it cleans and clears homeless encampments after fighting local and federal lawsuits. By November 2023, the city said it helped more than 700 people into shelter spaces through its new approach to cleaning the encampment.
The city says it’s been cooperating with the DOJ investigation, but is also bracing for the results. It's possible the city and department could face a consent decree.
"What I’ve been preparing our department for is it’s not going to feel good," interim-Chief Sullivan said in October 2023. "It’s going to say some things that are painful for the department to hear."
It's not clear exactly when the Department of Justice will announce any findings or the outcome of their investigation, but they are possibly expected in early 2024.
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