Phoenix's pioneer in police oversight is taking a step back. Roger Smith, the inaugural director of the Office of Accountability and Transparency (OAT) that was established to monitor the Phoenix Police Department, is set to resign effective February 9th. His departure comes after facing a shrinking scope of influence due to a state law that scaled back the office's powers to investigate police conduct, a move originally pitched as an effort to maintain the "civilian nature" of OAT, according to an earlier interview Smith gave to ABC15.
The law, backed by Arizona legislators and signed by then-Governor Doug Ducey in 2022, was a direct response to the newly formed oversight office. Upended by these restrictions, Smith's role shifted from exclusively leading investigations to predominantly monitoring internal police inquiries. This change was lamented by Smith himself, who forecasted the revised mission to "soon" not feel like a baby step, per an interview with 12News.
Smith's exit punctuates a turbulent tenure at OAT, which cast a spotlight on Phoenix's policing practices amidst federal scrutiny. The Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice has been investigating the Phoenix Police Department since 2021. While his resignation letter cited a lack of requisite independence for the office to effectively perform, Smith leaves behind an agency he helped to launch, now tasked with the challenge of finding a successor to spearhead the oversight initiative. The city's quest for new leadership signals an ongoing commitment to civilian oversight, as stated by City Manager Jeff Barton in a message shared with ABC15.
Community activists, such as those from Poder in Action, have voiced disapproval, blaming the police department and Mayor Kate Gallego for stifling the office's efficacy. "The historic pushback on OAT shows us that PPD will never and could never reform itself," said Rebecca Denis, spokesperson for Poder in Action, to ABC15. This stance amplifies the call for a release of the DOJ report, regarded as vital to understanding the full context and necessary reforms within Phoenix law enforcement.
