(KTAR) — Federal oversight could tank officer retention in 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% were considering leaving in the next three to six months.
LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE
However, respondents changed their minds when asked if they’d still leave if Phoenix PD and city officials resisted a consent decree with the Department of Justice.
In fact, almost 90% of respondents said they’d stay if authorities refused to enter into any type of federal agreement with the DOJ, which released a report of civil rights violations in June.
What did the DOJ’s investigation into the Phoenix Police find?
The report found Phoenix Police regularly used excessive force, targeted people of color, violated protestors’ rights and discriminated against people with behavioral health disabilities.
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Kristen Clarke said the police department and city also violated the Constitution’s first, fourth and 14th amendments.
Additionally, this was the first time the DOJ found a pattern against people experiencing homelessness — and the second time when Native Americans were targeted, Clarke said.
PLEA President Darrell Kriplean said the DOJ’s report was already having a negative impact on officer retention.
He said the DOJ has a 30-year track record of failure during during a Wednesday interview with KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show.
Essentially, he thinks the DOJ is incapable of holding Phoenix Police accountable for rights violations.
“We should be beholden to our community members and our city council folks that the community elects to oversee our department,” Kriplean said.
He said the Phoenix PD is a self-assessing and self-correcting agency.
