Grand Canyon Times

Arizona Republicans have penned a letter to Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, urging her to reject any potential consent decrees proposed by the Department of Justice (DOJ). This appeal follows a two-year investigation by the DOJ into the Phoenix Police Department.

The investigation, launched in 2021, scrutinized both the Phoenix Police Department and the City of Phoenix. The objective was to "assess all types of use of force by PhxPD officers, including deadly force. The investigation will also seek to determine whether PhxPD engages in retaliatory activity against people for conduct protected by the First Amendment; whether PhxPD engages in discriminatory policing; and whether PhxPD unlawfully seizes or disposes of the belongings of individuals experiencing homelessness," according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs.

On Monday, legislators forwarded their letter to Gallego, expressing apprehension about potential outcomes from this investigation. They voiced concerns that the city might be issued a consent decree - a legal order transferring control of the department to the DOJ. According to an article from AZ Central, such a decree primarily aims to limit or stop use of force while fostering accountability within police departments, leading ultimately to long-term policy reform.

If Phoenix were issued such a decree, federal monitors would oversee law enforcement and track progress on reforms. Should the city refuse this decree, it could result in legal disputes. If this happens, Phoenix would become the largest city in America to reject a consent decree as per an article from AZ Central.

In their letter, lawmakers wrote: "As you know, the DOJ has used consent decrees to remove local control from police departments in metropolitan cities across the United States," according to a press release from the Arizona House of Representatives. They continued: "Relinquishing local control of these critical agencies to the federal government has been disastrous for both public safety and taxpayers. Arizonans have already suffered the drastic consequences of the DOJ consent decree over the Maricopa County Sheriffs Department for the past decade, as Maricopa County Sheriff Penzone and Maricopa County Attorney Mitchell have warned. Giving any consideration to a DOJ consent decree could very well lead to a massive exodus of police officers-at a time when the police force in Phoenix is already severely understaffed (approximately 500 officers short, according to recent reports)."

The letter was spearheaded by Rep. David Marshall (R-Ariz.), and endorsed by 20 fellow Republican representatives including Reps. Matt Gress, Austin Smith, Rachel Jones, Selina Bliss, John Gillette among others, according to a press release from the Arizona House of Representatives.