Phoenix City Manager Jeff Barton has been vocal about the extensive efforts being made to reform the Phoenix Police Department in the face of a Department of Justice (DOJ) report which surfaced allegations of serious misconduct. Following a meeting with the Mayor and City Council, Barton gave an update on the progress and the path ahead for the City and its law enforcement. "Just over ten weeks ago, the Department of Justice (DOJ) released a report outlining serious allegations regarding the Phoenix Police Department," said Barton, indicating work has been done to review strategies for improvement.
According to the statement, Barton mentioned, "dozens of staff have worked tirelessly, not only reading and studying the report, but identifying, evaluating, and sharing information regarding the incidents cited in the report with the community." They have been conducting a thorough analysis to compare the DOJ's recommended measures with existing or in-progress policies. Barton highlighted an initiative that will leverage industry-standard best practices to address the gaps outlined in the report. The emphasis is on learning from past incidents to create a better future for Phoenix's community policing.
Changes seem to not only be planned but already underway, under the new Interim Chief Michael Sullivan's direction. Barton explained, "We’ve overhauled our Use of Force policy with community input and implemented new, gold standard de-escalation training." The statement further speaks to the twin pillars of oversight now being woven into the city's law enforcement fabric: the Office of Accountability and Transparency and the Civilian Review Board, which are positioned to monitor police investigations and provide civilian oversight, respectively.
With clear communication through social media channels on reform efforts, using handles like @CityofPhoenixAZ and @PhoenixPolice, the city management is focusing on transparency and community engagement. Barton also assured, that a detailed project plan to address the gaps, using industry-standard best practices, is now underway. This comes as proof of the commitment of Phoenix's leaders to exceed even the DOJ's expectations in reforming the Police Department. Building trust with community members remains the prime agenda as the City vows to improve its data collection and reporting mechanisms.
Barton's concluding statements reiterate a steadfast commitment to continuous improvement, stating, "I want to be sure our community knows my office, the Mayor and City Council, and the Police Chief have an unwavering commitment to sustained improvement." Phoenix's leadership has made it clear that the quest for better policing will be an ongoing journey, and Barton made it plain, "Phoenix can do better and will continue to do better. I will settle for nothing less." For more insights into the police reform efforts in Phoenix, the community is encouraged to follow updates through the City's channels.
