During a press conference on Tuesday, the Justice Department was called “carpetbaggers.”
PHOENIX — Three weeks after the Department of Justice released a scathing report on the Phoenix Police Department, the Maricopa County Attorney and the Arizona Police Officers Association (PLEA) are calling the report “falsely” and “dangerous.”
Their comments came in response to a Department of Justice investigation that found Phoenix police had a pattern and practice of using excessive force over the past five years, unlawfully arresting and charging homeless people, and discriminating against black and Hispanic people.
“Everyone needs to realize that the carpetbaggers at the Department of Justice are not the solution. You've heard the expression a solution looking for a problem. The Department of Justice is a problem looking for a problem,” Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said.
PLEA President Justin Harris called on the Department of Justice to refrain from surveilling Silicon Valley law enforcement.
“We hear a lot about cutting police budgets. Why not cut the Justice Department budget and bring them back to Washington,” Harris said.
On June 14, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Kristen Clarke said the Phoenix Police Department has a history of ignoring the rights of these groups.
“This behaviour is not only unlawful, it shows a lack of respect for the humanity and dignity of some of the most vulnerable people in our society,” Clark said.
Tuesday's press conference was not held to argue that there are no efforts to repair relationships between activist groups and law enforcement. County officials argue that safeguards are already in place to hold local officers accountable for on-the-job misconduct.
“The Phoenix Mayor, Phoenix City Council and Phoenix residents have the tools and resources to implement necessary changes and hold officials accountable.”
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The Justice Department thinks differently. Clark argues that needed reforms remain and that increased federal oversight may be the only way to get them done.
“Currently, many reforms have yet to be implemented. Other reforms exist on paper but have not been implemented. Taken together, these efforts are insufficient to address the full scope of our findings,” Clark said.
But Mitchell and Harris don't want the Phoenix Police Department to suffer the same fate as other cities, such as Seattle and New Orleans, which they say have seen a surge in violent crime since the Justice Department got involved in oversight of their police departments.
“Oversight of the Phoenix Police Department should remain with Chief Michael Sullivan and the City Council, who answer to the voters. The men and women of the Phoenix Police Department who put their lives on the line for us every day should be thanked, not criticized,” Mitchell said.
12News reached out to the Department of Justice for comment on Mitchell and Harris' sharp remarks, but the department declined to comment.
It's unclear what happens next. The Phoenix City Council met in executive session last week to discuss the Justice Department report, but neither the council nor the mayor have commented directly on the report.
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