Justice Department Consent Decree Could Hurt Phoenix Police Officer Retention

PHOENIX — Federal oversight could hurt officer retention at the Phoenix Police Department, according to a survey released Wednesday.

The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association’s survey of 1,186 Phoenix police officers found that 56 percent were considering leaving within the next three to six months.

However, respondents changed their minds when asked whether they would still leave if the Phoenix Police Department and city officials resisted a consent decree with the Justice Department.

In fact, nearly 90 percent of those surveyed said they would stay if officials refused to reach any federal settlement with the Justice Department, which released a report on civil rights violations in June.

What did the Justice Department’s investigation of Phoenix police reveal?

The report found that Phoenix police routinely used excessive force, targeted people of color, violated the rights of protesters and discriminated against people with behavioral disorders.

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Kristen Clarke said the police department and city also violated the First, Fourth and 14th Amendments to the Constitution.

Additionally, it was the first time the Justice Department had found a pattern against homeless people — and the second time Native Americans were targeted, Clarke said.

PLEA President Darrell Kriplean said the Justice Department report is already having a negative impact on officer retention.

He said the Justice Department has a 30-year history of failures in an interview Wednesday with The Mike Broomhead Show on KTAR News 92.3 FM.

Essentially, he believes the Justice Department is unable to hold Phoenix police accountable for rights violations.

“We should be accountable to our community members and our city council members who the community elects to oversee our department,” Kriplean said.

He said the Phoenix Police Department is a self-evaluating, self-correcting agency.

How Would a Justice Department Consent Decree Impact the Phoenix Police Department?

Police have long expressed dissatisfaction with the idea of ​​a consent decree with the Justice Department.

In January, Phoenix police released a 53-page report detailing its commitment to reform.

The report was accompanied by a four-page letter accusing the Justice Department of using a one-size-fits-all and ineffective approach to police reform.

“Our officers are smart. They see what’s happening in other communities with the Department of Justice,” Kriplean said. “This is basically a depolicing maneuver because officers are afraid they won’t be able to do their job and serve the community.”

The Justice Ministry’s surveillance comes with fear of prosecution and heavy red tape, he added.

Kriplean also criticized the Justice Department’s claims that its oversight is effective because of the decline in use-of-force incidents in the cities it oversees. He said the data is misleading. Cities aren’t safer; it’s just that officers have become disengaged, he said.

“They’re not there to arrest people, because at any point, if someone complains that the handcuffs are too tight, they’re immediately subject to an internal investigation,” Kriplean said. “That’s why violent crime is increasing.”