PHOENIX — Internal investigations of recent incidents involving police force were found to be "not thorough" enough, according to an office providing independent oversight for the Phoenix Police Department.
The Office of Accountability and Transparency released four new reports this week detailing its review of investigations conducted by Phoenix police into violent incidents involving its officers.
Two of the reports concluded Phoenix police could have done a better job and provided a list of recommendations.
"OAT’s conclusion following review is that the investigation was not thorough and complete," one of the reports state.
One of the incidents reviewed by OAT involved a suspect who was injured by a police dog in August 2023. The suspect was ordered to exit a building or police would release a K-9 on them.
The dog subsequently bit the suspect's arm and held on for about 20 seconds, according to the OAT report.
"This sustained bite occurred after the responding officers had gained control of Involved Civilian by his other arm and were placing him in handcuffs," the report states. "The detention and handcuffing seemingly eliminated any immediate threat Involved Civilian would have then posed to responding officers or bystanders."
The police department's review of the bite incident determined the officer had acted within policy. But the OAT concluded that a full-scale investigation by the Professional Standards Bureau should have been conducted to address the rationale for using the canine under these circumstances.
"A full PSB investigation, including interviewing the Involved Officer, would have afforded the K-9 Officer the opportunity to explain how and why the canine bite lasted the length it did," the OAT report states.
The other OAT report reviewed an investigation into a suspect who was shot while running from officers in December 2022. The suspect was armed with a knife and sustained two non-lethal gunshot wounds.
Based on its review, the OAT concluded police investigators should have fully explored the involved officer’s decision-making process by asking more follow-up questions. Furthermore, the OAT thinks the police department should provide written analysis explaining their investigative findings.
The two other OAT reports released this week determined police conducted "sufficiently thorough" investigations for those respective incidents.
The accountability office was created in 2021 with the intention of conducting independent investigations into police conduct. But the office has encountered some setbacks since its inception.
In 2022, a new state law stripped away the civilian office's investigative powers, resulting in the office adopting the role of a monitor over police-led investigations. Earlier this year, the office's first director resigned.
All OAT reports can be found here.
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