PHOENIX — The City of Phoenix has told the U.S. Department of Justice it doesn't want the federal agency using a consent decree to control its police department, according to a letter sent this week.
City officials have been waiting for the the federal agency to release its findings of a years-long investigation into Phoenix's police practices. The city has now made it clear Phoenix doesn't want a resolution that "cedes control to the DOJ" in the form of a consent decree.
"Whatever their virtues, consent decrees are lengthy, complicated, and expensive. They require actors not normally a part of the process of governing the operations of law enforcement agencies: the DOJ, a monitoring team, and a federal judge," a city representative wrote in a letter to the DOJ this week.
The city has proposed the DOJ drafting up a technical assistance letter, which the federal agency issues to institutions seeking guidance on how to comply with civil rights matters or federal laws.
The city argues that Phoenix should be eligible for this type of resolution because the city has demonstrated a willingness to make reforms and address weaknesses.
"Given the reforms already developed and being implemented by PPD... it does not make sense for Phoenix," the city's letter states regarding why they believe a consent decree is not appropriate.
Furthermore, the city said the way the DOJ has handled its ongoing investigation has made the city weary about entering into a consent decree that would allow the federal agency more control over the police department.
"This lack of transparency has caused substantial frustration and growing resistance to the prospect of federal oversight among Phoenix residents and their elected representatives," the letter states.
To support its argument, the city has recently released a 50-page report outlining initiatives and reforms the police department claims to have made in recent years.
The report mentions some of the scandals that resulted in the DOJ launching its investigation in 2021, such as the arrests of several protestors in the months following the murder of George Floyd.
"PPD has made learning from these and other incidents a high priority for the Department," the report states. "Since the fourth quarter of 2022, PPD has undertaken a top-to-bottom review of the policies, practices, and training initiatives at the heart of these episodes."
