Roger Smith, the head of Phoenix's Office of Accountability and Transparency, which supervises police conduct, is resigning on Feb. 9, a move that comes amid a wave of officer-involved shootings, as confirmed by a spokesman for the city.
The Office of Accountability and Transparency, known as OAT, was established by the City of Phoenix to lead independent investigations into law enforcement actions; however, its authority was hamstrung when Arizona legislators passed a law prohibiting mostly civilian-led probes into police activities—a response specifically targeting Phoenix's new office, according to 12News.
In a statement obtained by Arizona’s Family, Smith asserts that a performance improvement plan was imposed on him earlier in January, and he faced interference from a senior law department member, allegedly with backing from the city manager's office, creating a work environment where he could not independently and impartially perform his duties as required by Phoenix City Code.
Smith, referring to his tenure and the limitations imposed upon OAT, had previously told 12News, "It feels like a baby step right now, it won't soon feel that way," in a 2023 interview, signifying his initial optimism despite the legislative rebuff; the city reaffirmed their commitment to finding a new director who can continue the oversight and community feedback roles of OAT, which includes monitoring police investigations and fielding public input on policing in Phoenix, as per a statement provided by Arizona’s Family.
The timing of Smith's decision coincides with a federal investigation into the Phoenix Police Department, alongside reports of at least four officer-involved shootings within the last month, signaling a contentious period for law enforcement accountability in the city.
