City leaders reviewed significant improvements to public safety while also laying out initial plans for continued enhancements at a public policy session Tuesday in Phoenix City Council Chambers.
Under the direction of the Phoenix City Council and with community input, the City’s service to the Phoenix community has experienced a period of significant change. The Mayor and Council have made notable investments in the expansion of the Community Assistance Program and in nearly 1,400 new shelter beds for those experiencing homelessness. The Office of Accountability and Transparency (OAT) has also now reviewed more than a dozen police administrative investigations. The City will continue working to address concerns raised by the Department of Justice Investigation as well as recommendations from OAT and community feedback.
“The Mayor and City Council have facilitated many improvements in the last several years. Under their leadership, we will continue those improvements. Additionally, we are now placing a larger emphasis on service delivery and building the model for measuring and demonstrating our performance. We need to collect data related to these changes so we can demonstrate the level of accountability our community demands,” City Manager Jeff Barton said.
Themes involving enhanced systems of accountability, development of new policy and improved employee training ran throughout the Policy Session presentations from t he Phoenix Police Department (PPD), (OAT), Office of Homeless Solutions (OHS) and the City Manager’s Office .
“We want to make changes and we want the changes outlined in today’s Policy Session to happen quickly,” Barton said. “This is why our intent is to begin productive conversations with the DOJ in an effort to find a mutually acceptable resolution that will allow us to make changes at the local level, while being transparent with our community about our progress.”
The community will play a key role in developing these plans, with all major policy changes going to the public for comment before finalization. The City of Phoenix also intends to hold community meetings in each Council district, and city-wide, to discuss and receive feedback on overall plans for improvement.
Below is a summary of some of the items discussed. A video of the presentation as well as the PowerPoint slides presented in the meeting are available for review on the City’s DOJ website .
Public Safety
With direction from the Phoenix City Council, the City implemented reforms prior to the announcement of the DOJ investigation, during the investigation, and is committed to ongoing improvement through enhanced policy, accountability, and training .
Prior to the DOJ investigation, major initiatives included implementation of body-worn cameras, the implementation of a Crisis Intervention Team, and the creation of the Office of Accountability and Transparency.
Recognizing that uniformed officers are not always the appropriate response to a 911 call for service, the City Council approved expansion of the Community Assistance Program (CAP) which facilitates sending trained experts to respond to calls for service where an individual is experiencing a behavioral health crisis or substance use concern .
During the nearly three years of the DOJ investigation, improvements to enhance public safety continued:
- Use of Force Policy Update to emphasize necessary, reasonable and proportional use of force.
- Integrating Communications, Assessment and Tactics (ICAT) Training which focuses on deescalation techniques with people armed with something other than a firearm.
- Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE) Training which empowers employees to intervene in a situation invol ving misconduct.
- Expansion of the Less Lethal Program to make tools like the 40mm projectile and Pepperball launchers available throughout patrol squads
- Development of the Organizational Integrity Bureau, which includes the Continuous Improvement Unit dedicated to ensuring ongoing policy review, sustainable improvements and compliance auditing.
During the Policy Session, short -term efforts were outlined as well as a structure for mid and long-term plans as part of an overall framework to address the 37 recommended remedial measures outlined in the DOJ’s report. Short term goals include:
- Implementation of the new Use of Force Policy.
- Policy implementation and supervisor review of unattended property
- Data forms to gather information on vehicle and pedestrian stops to eliminate racial disparities.
- Releasing New First Amendment Policy for public review and input
- Develop and implement improved training for 911 dispatchers related to behavioral health.
- Create new policies and standards of practice for interactions with youth
- Launch of cultural competency training in partnership with tribal nation police departments.
- Explore youth prevention programming.
- Explore additional services to be provided by civilian staff, rather than sworn Phoenix Police Department (PPD) employees.
The Mayor and Council approved four new civilian positions for the Police Department to create a compliance analyst team. The Department recognizes they must be held accountable for compliance to any new policy or procedure. This will be accomplished through data that can be measured and shared with the community to show consistent improvement.
Additionally, the City Council unanimously passed recommendations presented by Mayor Kate Gallego, Public Safety Chairman Kevin Robinson and Councilwoman Kesha Hodge- Washington.
Office of Homeless Solutions (OHS)
Since the City Council supported the creation of the Office of Homeless Solutions in 2022, the office has shown steady success in creating more options for our community’s most vulnerable population. The most recent Maricopa Association of Governments Point-in-Time Homelessness Count showed a 19 percent drop in the number of unsheltered individuals in Phoenix. This is a direct result of the creation of new shelter beds and connect ing individuals with services approved by the Phoenix City Council and facilitated by OHS.
Other key initiatives include:
- Adding a net total of 1,382 new indoor shelter beds since 2022
- Opening the City’s first structured campground called the Safe Outdoor Space.
- Implementation of a process for storage of unattended property
- Launching services in support of the Phoenix Community Court as an alternative path to the traditional criminal justice system for those experiencing homelessness.
- Improving heat response efforts for those experiencing homelessness including addition of a 24/7 site, an overnight site, and three extended hour heat respite locations.
The Mayor and City Council converted f ourteen temporary OHS positions were to ongoing, regular positions to continue to the positive momentum of the office.
Office of Accountability and Transparency (OAT)
The Office of Accountability and Transparency released its first reports based on independent reviews of police administrative investigation s this year. OAT has now released 15 reports and determined that 8 of those 15 investigations were thorough and complete. OAT is reviewing another 88 incidents. The reports out line recommended actions such as:
- Reviewing the conduct of all officers who use or threaten use of force
- Interviewing involved officers regarding every allegation made
- Explain ing any deviation from discipline for sustained allegations.
In addition to review of administrative reports, OAT also acts as a mediator, bringing Phoenix Police and community members together to resolve issues and foster improved understanding.
In May of 2024, the City Council established the Civilian Review Board. The application period for prospective board members recently closed. Once the Board is established, OAT will provide training on best practices and civilian oversight as the Board reviews and analyzes OAT’s reports and the Police Department ’s responses.
